Table of contents
- knife shredder
- roller chopper
- multipurpose shredder
- Performance & Engine
In general, two different types of garden shredders are available, which differ in how they work and in the subsequent result. These include the knife chopper and the roller chopper. The useful devices are colloquially called shredders and are particularly suitable for large gardens with a lot of green waste. Thanks to the powerful machines, all types of garden waste can be shredded, including branches, hedge clippings and shrubs.
knife shredder
The knife shredder is particularly suitable for soft green waste that contains only a few woody parts. With very hard material to be cut, the knives dull too quickly and become ineffective. In addition, knife shredders do not have an independent feeder, so a greater amount of work is required when using them. Since the chopped material obtained rots very slowly, it can be used to cover and mulch the garden beds. In this way, the beds get good protection for the winter. In addition, the finely structured material from the knife shredder loosens up the compost heap. This improves the oxygen supply so that composting is not only faster and more thorough, but also involves far less nutrient loss. However, it should be noted that the use of the knife shredder could disturb the neighbors in the area due to the noise generated.
- Ideal for soft plant material
- Devices have numerous knives, are very efficient
- Fast rotating blades work with many revolutions per minute
- Cutting green waste into extremely small pieces
- Significantly lighter and cheaper than roller shredders
- Much louder when in use
- Wear hearing protection when using
- Green waste must be pushed in with your own effort
A notice:
Blockages occur quickly, especially with regular use, so that the knife shredder has to be disassembled and then thoroughly cleaned.
roller chopper
In contrast to the knife shredder, the roller shredder does not cut the green waste, but crushes it. Therefore, this shredder is better suited for the shredding of larger wood residues. On the other hand, the device is not well suited for wet and soft greens, which often cause blockages. However, since most models have a built-in return, the blockages that occur are quickly cleared. Roller choppers only work at a low speed, but with high torques. Due to the crushing during chopping, the microorganisms have a much larger surface area to attack during composting. In this way, the shredded material rots much faster on the compost heap. The garden soil can then be significantly upgraded and fertilized with the finished compost material.
- Optimal for hard and woody starting materials
- Crush clippings with a roller equipped with spikes
- Work much slower
- Chop very quietly, don't make much disturbing noise
- Easy to use, pull in green waste independently
- Have greater dead weight
- The disadvantage is the much higher purchase price
Tip:
Due to the independent intake, the green waste sometimes throws itself around when chopping. Therefore, you should wear safety goggles when using it to minimize the risk of injury.
multipurpose shredder
The multi-purpose shredder is a combination of knife shredder and roller shredder. These devices work with a special technology that can differ depending on the manufacturer. Due to the high performance, no exhausting work steps are necessary when using it. Multipurpose shredders can shred almost any organic material found in the garden. Since the devices can shred many kilograms of cutting material per hour, they are particularly suitable for large garden landscapes. The result is valuable raw materials for compost and fertilization. In addition, the cuttings can be used as a mulch layer in the garden bed or as a natural covering for the garden paths.
- Work quickly and quietly at the same time thanks to the turbine cutting system
- Have roller and also very sharp cutting edges
- Crush and cut the feedstock
- Even green waste with a lot of foliage runs through without blockages
- Large openings make filling easier
- Automatic feed of the clippings
- Coped with branches up to 40-45 mm in diameter
Performance & Engine
Since the energy requirement for garden shredders is very high, there are still no battery-powered devices. There are various performance classes to choose from, which differ extremely in terms of price, performance and quality. Therefore, the gardener should consider carefully before buying which is the right shredder for his individual needs. If you run the garden more as a hobby, you can get by with a basic model. For gardeners with very large plots of land and fruit growing, investing in a high-quality and powerful device is worthwhile.
- You can choose between electric and petrol engines
- AC devices with 220 volts are sufficient for small areas and ornamental gardens
- Power shredders with 380 volts are extremely powerful
- Powerful electric motor can handle even large amounts of clippings
- A power connection is not required for garden shredders with a petrol engine
- Ideal for very large garden landscapes
- Petrol engines often work with lower torques, but are more flexible
- Prices depend on the model and manufacturer, between 100-1000 euros
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