Garden Shredders

About Garden Shredders

Garden shredders, also known as wood chippers or wood shredders, are essential tools for managing garden waste efficiently. Whether you're pruning trees, trimming hedges, or clearing overgrown shrubs, these machines transform bulky branches, leaves, and woody debris into compact chippings that are far easier to dispose of or repurpose. Rather than filling multiple bags with awkward branches or making countless trips to the recycling centre, a garden shredder reduces waste volume by up to 80%, whilst creating valuable mulch or compost material for your beds and borders.

Our range includes both impact and roller (quiet) shredders, powered by mains electricity, petrol, or cordless battery technology. Impact models use rotating blades to cut through material with aggressive efficiency, making them ideal for mixed garden waste and older, drier wood. Roller shredders employ a crushing mechanism that draws material in automatically, operating more quietly and processing large volumes faster, though they can struggle with fresh, green wood. From compact DIY models perfect for small gardens to heavy-duty petrol chippers for professional use, we stock trusted brands including Bosch, Einhell, Makita, Webb, and Sealey.

Modern garden shredders feature practical innovations such as collection bags, reversible blades, safety hoppers, and wheels for easy mobility. Cordless models offer the ultimate in portability, whilst petrol-powered units deliver the raw power needed for demanding commercial applications or larger properties without mains access. Whatever your requirements, investing in a quality shredder will save hours of manual work and transform garden maintenance from a chore into a manageable task.

Jargon Buster

• Impact Shredder – Uses rotating blades or flails to cut and chip material. More aggressive and noisier than roller types, but less prone to jamming and suitable for a wider variety of waste including dry, woody material.
• Roller (Quiet) Shredder – Employs a crushing roller mechanism that draws material in automatically and processes it more quietly. Ideal for high-volume jobs but can block when fed fresh or green wood.
• Cutting Capacity – The maximum diameter of branch that the shredder can safely process, typically ranging from 35mm for light-duty domestic models up to 100mm+ for professional petrol chippers.
• Reduction Ratio – Indicates how much the shredder compresses waste volume, commonly between 10:1 and 15:1, meaning ten bags of branches become just one bag of chippings.
• Turbine Cutting – An advanced cutting system that combines benefits of both impact and roller designs, offering quieter operation whilst maintaining the ability to handle varied waste types efficiently.
• Reverse Function – A feature that allows the cutting mechanism to rotate backwards, helping to clear blockages without having to dismantle the machine.

Who Uses Garden Shredders?

• Professional Gardeners and Landscapers – For managing client waste efficiently and reducing disposal costs on multiple job sites
• Tree Surgeons and Arborists – Heavy-duty petrol models for processing large volumes of branches and woody material on-site
• Groundskeepers and Estate Managers – Maintaining parks, golf courses, large gardens, and commercial grounds
• Allotment Holders and Market Gardeners – Creating mulch and compost material whilst managing green waste sustainably
• Homeowners with Large Gardens – DIY enthusiasts tackling seasonal pruning and maintaining hedges and borders
• Rural Property Owners – Managing woodland areas, orchards, and extensive grounds where mains power may be limited
• Garden Maintenance Contractors – Offering waste reduction services and creating saleable mulch products

How to Choose the Right Garden Shredders

Power Source: Mains electric shredders suit most domestic users with access to power sockets, offering lower maintenance and quieter operation. Petrol models provide greater power and portability for professional use or large rural properties. Cordless battery shredders offer excellent convenience for smaller jobs without trailing cables.

Shredder Type: Impact shredders excel with mixed, drier material and are less likely to jam, though they're noisier. Roller shredders work faster on large volumes and operate more quietly, but can struggle with fresh green wood. Consider turbine cutting systems for the best of both worlds.

Cutting Capacity: Match the maximum branch diameter to your typical waste. Light domestic use requires 35-40mm capacity, regular garden maintenance suits 40-45mm, whilst professional applications demand 50mm or greater. Overloading smaller machines causes jams and premature wear.

Collection and Portability: Look for integrated collection bags to catch chippings conveniently. Wheels and handles are essential for moving the machine around your garden. Compact, lightweight models under 15kg suit smaller spaces, whilst heavier units offer greater stability during operation.

Build Quality and Features: Premium brands offer longer warranties, replaceable blades, safety features like automatic cut-outs, and robust construction. Consider reverse functions for clearing blockages, and safety hoppers to keep hands away from cutting mechanisms. Budget models suit occasional use, but frequent users benefit from investing in quality.

Popular Accessories

• Replacement Blades – Essential consumables that maintain cutting efficiency; reversible blades double service life before requiring replacement
• Collection Bags and Covers – Purpose-made bags fit securely to catch all chippings, whilst covers protect machines during storage
• Replacement Wheels – Ensure continued mobility across lawns and paths when original wheels wear or become damaged
• Safety Gloves – Heavy-duty gardening gloves protect hands when handling thorny or rough branches
• Safety Glasses and Face Shields – Essential protection against flying debris during operation
• Extension Leads – Heavy-duty outdoor-rated cables for reaching distant areas of the garden safely with electric models
• Ear Defenders – Particularly important when operating impact shredders for extended periods

Safety Information

Garden shredders contain powerful cutting mechanisms that demand respect and proper safety precautions. Always wear safety glasses or a face shield to protect against flying debris and wood chips that can be ejected during operation. Heavy-duty gloves are essential when handling branches, particularly thorny material or rough bark that can cause splinters and cuts.

Impact shredders produce significant noise levels, so ear defenders are strongly recommended for extended use. Never attempt to push material into the hopper with your hands – use a pusher stick or plunger if provided. Ensure the machine is switched off and disconnected from power before clearing blockages or performing any maintenance. Keep children and pets well away from the operating area.

Only process material within the specified cutting capacity – forcing oversized branches causes jams and can damage the machine or cause injury. When using electric models, always use an RCD (residual current device) for additional protection against electric shock, and ensure extension leads are rated for outdoor use. Read the manufacturer's instruction manual thoroughly before first use and never bypass safety guards or features.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between an impact shredder and a roller shredder?

Impact shredders use rotating blades to cut material aggressively and are noisier but less prone to jamming, making them ideal for mixed, drier waste. Roller (quiet) shredders crush material using a roller mechanism, operate more quietly, and work faster on large volumes, but can block when processing fresh green wood. Choose impact for versatility, roller for regular high-volume work.

Can I use the chippings from my garden shredder?

Absolutely. The chippings make excellent mulch for spreading around beds and borders to suppress weeds and retain moisture. They can also be added to compost heaps where they'll break down faster than whole branches, or used as path covering. Allow fresh chippings to age for a few weeks before using directly around plants to prevent nitrogen depletion in the soil.

What size branches can a typical garden shredder handle?

This varies by model. Domestic electric shredders typically handle branches between 35-45mm diameter, which suits most pruning and hedge trimming tasks. Heavy-duty electric and petrol models can process 50-100mm or larger. Always check the manufacturer's specified cutting capacity and never force oversized material as this causes jams and potential damage.

Do I need a petrol shredder or will electric be sufficient?

For most domestic users with gardens under half an acre and access to mains power, an electric shredder provides ample performance with lower maintenance and running costs. Petrol models suit professional users, very large properties, or locations without convenient power access. They offer greater mobility and typically handle larger branch diameters, but require more maintenance and produce more noise and emissions.

Why does my shredder keep blocking?

Blockages usually occur when processing fresh, green, or sappy wood, particularly in roller-type shredders. The material can compact and jam rather than chip cleanly. Allow prunings to dry for a few days before shredding, alternate green material with drier woody waste, and avoid overfeeding. Many models include a reverse function to help clear blockages. Also ensure blades are sharp – dull blades crush rather than cut, increasing jam risk.