As already mentioned in our first article, February is also the time to cut the garden shrubs and there is usually a considerable amount of twigs and branches that are basically too good to end up in the landfill. So a shredder is needed that shreds the cuttings and all other bulky plant residues in a way that makes them suitable for composting. This saves us spending on fertilizer and humus soil, but high-quality shredders definitely have their price and are not particularly popular with noise-sensitive neighbors.
Shredders are very helpful when trees are cut frequently
The last official comparison of the devices, which are very useful and popular for garden owners, by the "Warentest" foundation was seven years ago. It is all the more gratifying that the editors of "mein schön Garten" have once again taken on this topic in the current February issue with a representative selection of current shredders (199.99€).
Much has become better with the shredders
In contrast to the usual tests, the eight evaluated devices were not sent to the laboratory for acoustic tests, but practice-oriented, real gardeners put them through their paces using the most common types of clippings and under real conditions. Another novelty: the results of the comparative test are not only available to paying readers of the garden magazine mentioned above, they are also published (in even more detail than in the print edition) on the online portal. It is particularly pleasing that, compared to the tests from 2006 and 2011, work safety has improved significantly and that at least no acute noise levels are generated when chopping kindling.
The “dark side”: While good compost shredders were still available for 99 euros in 2006, you currently have to dig much deeper into your wallet. The price range for today's branded shredders, which are undoubtedly more powerful, starts at just under 200 euros and goes up to 1,200 euros for professional devices. Incidentally, shredding branches with a thickness of 40 to 45 mm is no problem for either type of shredder.
Loud or quiet with roller or knife?
Since the quieter roller shredders only work at around 50 rpm on average, the working noise of around 90 dB is unmistakable, but still moderate. The devices, which are significantly noisy at 100 to 110 dB and shred the clippings with a rotating blade and reach speeds of at least 1,000 rpm, process the twigs and branches much faster and finer. Thus, the purchase decision for most allotment gardeners probably depends to a large extent on the amount of their garden waste accumulated over the year. We therefore recommend interested parties to read the last part of the test report carefully, because with an average garden or property size between 500 and 5,000 square meters, shredders usually run for a maximum of two days a year. At least once a year we garden owners have a common problem that can be just as complicated.