- Which compost can you shred?
- Various devices for shredding compost
- Only buy shredders with a seal of approval
- Shredding compost with protective clothing
So that garden waste rots quickly on the compost and can be used as fertilizer, it should first be shredded well. Shredders are ideal for this, with which you can also chop up large amounts of compost material. Which devices are suitable for shredding compost?
Bulky tree clippings should be chopped up before composting
Which compost can you shred?
Basically, you should cut all garden waste nice and small before composting. Since chopping large quantities by hand can be very tiring, it is worth buying a garden shredder.
A good shredder (€199.99) is indispensable, especially in large gardens with a lot of tree and bush cuttings.
All materials from the garden and kitchen can be chopped:
- tree remains
- shrub pruning
- leaves
- dried plants
- fruit and vegetable waste
Caution: Garden waste that is contaminated with pests or fungal spores such as mildew should not be shredded or composted in the garden. Such waste belongs in the household waste.
Various devices for shredding compost
The market for shredders for the garden is unmanageable. A distinction is made between three main types:
- knife shredder
- roller chopper
- Chopper with turbine cutting mechanism
The larger the garden, the higher quality and more powerful the shredder should be.
Knife shredders work very quickly but are very noisy, so they are not ideal in densely populated residential areas. Roller shredders are quieter, but they don't shred the compost as quickly. Turbocharged chippers are both quiet and fast.
Only buy shredders with a seal of approval
Rather spend a little more money for a shredder with a seal of approval. Here the risk of injury is not as great as with cheap offers.
Make sure the knives or rollers are easy to remove as they will need to be cleaned and sharpened regularly.
An integrated grass catcher can be very useful for catching the chopped compost material. This saves you having to rake up afterwards.
Shredding compost with protective clothing
When shredding garden waste, protect your skin and eyes from flying debris. Whichever shredder you use, flying shredded parts cannot be completely avoided.
tips
You should store very damp garden waste in the garden before chopping it up so that it can dry out. Dry shrubbery is very suitable for drying out a compost that is too moist.