Fall is usually the season when the purchasing of a chipper shredder comes to mind, with all the pruned shrubs and trees leading to mountains of branches.
Since it is now often illegal to simply burn the branches in a huge bonfire as was done before, and we usually lack space to let it break down naturally, we’re often compelled to purchase a plant shredder.
The range to choose from is wide. What is the best chipper shredder deal for your garden in terms of power, price and quality?
The first question to ask relates to the amount of plants you’ll need to shred.
After that, practical questions also must be considered.
The technology involved also impacts the purchasing of a chipper shredder.
Indeed, any of the following may be important: type of power (gas, electric), power rating, type of blade and maximum branch size. All these criteria will help take the decision.
The size of your garden doesn’t matter when considering the engine power, because the important thing here is what you’ll be shredding, not how much.
If you’ve got a large garden with mainly a lawn and a hedge and that you never prune, your needs will be different from someone with a smaller garden and an orchard with lots of roses, shrubs and hedges to prune once or twice a year.
So the more you’ll be using your shredder, the higher the quality you’ll be needing.
The larger the branch size, the more powerful the chipper shredder will need to be. Although it sounds too simple, reality reminds us that you need to provide some buffer so that the device doesn’t jam and burn the engine.
The noise level of chipper-shredders is rated in decibels dB and it may influence your choice.
Whatever the rating provided by the manufacturer, noiseless shredders don’t exist and you’ll have to wear noise protection to preserve your hearing.
No need to remind you that neighborhood common sense must prevail when using the device during the day, and that sometimes municipal guidelines must be followed as regards noise.
The more powerful the chipper shredder is, the heavier it weighs. Also, gas-powered engines are heavier than electric ones.
The lightest ones are barely 20 pounds (10 kg) whereas the heavier ones weigh in at over 100 (40 kg).
Today, all chipper shredders sold in Europe and North America must answer to drastic safety concerns, so you mustn’t be afraid.
However, there are as always rules to follow to prevent accidents:
This shredded material is precious, don’t simply throw it away!
Indeed, this is ideal for mulch, spread it about an inch (a couple centimeters) thick over all your flower beds.
Now you know everything you need to know about purchasing a chipper-shredder, feel free to leave us a comment with your own experience and purchases!
How many times should i have my chipper serviced ? I see slow medium and fast switch on my chipper …. why ? my chipper seems light it bounces around in my garden
Hi! Manufacturers often recommend a yearly check-up, but if you only use it two or three times a year, a service every two years is fine. It’s always good to check oil levels and such before use for gas-powered chippers.
For the speed switch, what’s important is to check the thickness of what you’re chipping. Thin twigs from trimming up a regular hedge can use the “fast” setting. Irregular twigs or larger one, when you’re pruning a shrub or fruit tree, requires a slow setting. Thicker branches = slow, thinner branches = fast.
Yes, some chipper shredders are light. I find it helps to stabilize them somewhat with a large stone, a heavy log, or a sack full of sand or gravel. That way, it doesn’t move so much. Better for safety!
Remember to only “stick sticks” in there! Anything that chops wood like that can chop a finger! Usually there’s a plastic pusher that’s given with the device that has a handguard, keeping you from going in too deep.