It is not enough happiness to be the owner of a garden plot, which eventually turned into a mess due to unharvested branches, herbaceous plantings, etc. Garden care itself is based on the annual pruning of crops so that their crown is more bushy, aesthetic and prolific. The owners of personal plots with live fences will also have to tinker a lot. Caring for any landscape involves constantly putting things in order and getting rid of all sorts of natural debris such as branches, dry grass and other elements of unwanted vegetation. And therefore, a garden shredder will be most welcome in any household.
Purpose of the unit
Not everyone can afford to order a garbage truck all the time. And burning organics can cause disapproval from neighbors. In addition, this is associated with pollution of the territory, only with combustion products.
The garden shredder is a unit capable of processing (grinding) any biological waste. Any debris that occurs in the process of caring for a garden and a personal plot, whether it be grass, branches of trees and shrubs, it is able to grind into very small fragments. And if it is problematic to dispose of cut branches and heaps of hard grass, then a bunch of crushed biomass can be used as mulch or a means for the production of organic fertilizers. Wood chips from garden trees will also work for a home smoker.
Churning looks like you can see in the video.
Selection criteria depending on the type of waste
In order for the purchased garden shredder to be 100% effective, you should purchase it based on the load that you put on it. It should be borne in mind that there are three main varieties of such units, namely:
- Oriented to grind grass. This will be able to cope with grassy stems of any variety, even such as carrots or adult nettles. But tree knots will be too tough for them. If only weeds create a problem in your backyard, you can safely purchase such a unit, which will cost much less, especially if you choose a budget option with an electric drive.
- Dedicated to chopping branches. These can handle branches up to 8 cm in diameter (depending on engine power). But being equipped with a grinding device (shredder),able to deal only with relatively hard waste, they will not be able to withstand long stalks of grass or vine-like plants akin to climbing wild grapes, a vine whose stems will only slow down the machine, constantly winding around the shafts and requiring cleaning.
- Dedicated to chopping both branches and grass. These are more expensive and advanced models. Their shredder is equipped in such a way that it can process waste of any density and elasticity.
Varieties by chopper type
According to the types of shredders used in the garden unit, all shredders are also divided into three categories:
- Amateur, the purpose of which is only to grind grass. Their device is based on knives, usually two, located in parallel planes one above the other. Most often, even an electric garden shredder of this category can cope with any vegetation whose stems do not exceed a width of 1.5-2 cm. But still, it is better not to experiment with old branches of such dense tree crops as dogwood or cherry.
- Semi-professional (middle class) ready to handle tree branches up to 4 cm wide. As a rule, their crusher is a worm type, and the very principle of its operation is somewhat akin to an ordinary meat grinder. A shortened screw drives the branches into the cutting part, and one dust comes out. But there are problems with chopping long grass. It is this type of chopper that is most prone to “winding”, therefore it is best touse this unit for shredding wood waste. An electric garden wood shredder based on a worm type is also found, but a gasoline model will look more powerful and reliable in this regard.
- Professional based on cutting units or cutting shafts. Such people can, without particularly straining, “eat” a branch 8 cm wide. But despite their main cutting device, they are also equipped with additional knives, which in combination are ready to cope with waste of any kind. A garden shredder for grass and branches in this category is usually equipped with a high power gasoline engine. But there are also electric models equipped with powerful three-phase motors.
Table of parameters of agricultural shredders depending on their category
|
Category unit |
Drive type and power | Width of tree branches (maximum) | Mechanism weight | Application |
| Amateur | Electric, up to 1.5 kW | 25mm | Up to 20 kg | Small suburban areas with fruit trees and a vegetable garden, small household plots. Not designed for continuous operation |
| Semi-professional (middle class) | Electric or ICE (two-stroke) up to 3.5 kW | 40mm | Up to 50 kg | Home ownership with large plots, gardens, orchards, a large amount of green spaces that constantly require maintenance (haircuts, etc.). Designed for intermittent continuous operation |
| Professional | In most cases - internal combustion engine or a powerful three-phase electric motor up to 9 kW | 80mm | Up to 100 kg or more | Forest parks, rural and other farms growing vegetables, fruits, etc. Designed for everyday long-term work |
Advantages and disadvantages of electric shredders
If we take the type of power plant as a criterion, then each has its own obvious pluses and minuses.
According to the reviews of the owners, the advantages of electric devices are:
- Small noise. You will often hear more of the crackling of branches than the whine of the engine.
- Independence from liquid fuel. I plugged it in and everything works.
- Clean environment. No gasoline, which means no exhaust gases.
- Easy to operate and maintain. No oil changes, no candles, etc. Turned on my electric garden wood shredder and got to work right away.
Now for the cons:
- Limited movement. The unit will only work where there is access to the mains. And dragging a long extension cord is a dubious pleasure.
- Sensitivity to fluctuationsnetwork voltage. As soon as it falls from 220 to 200, and the engine ceases to cope with large formations, buzzing resentfully in one place. And such jumps are not rare in our time, especially in the suburbs and in summer cottages.
- Amateur and semi-professional electric models are rarely equipped with engines over 4 kW. And this suggests that their ceiling is branches and branches up to 4 cm.
Advantages and disadvantages of ICE shredders
Now about the units operating on internal combustion engines. Their obvious advantages, according to reviews, are expressed in:
- independence from the network, you can do business at an arbitrarily large distance from home;
- high power, eight-kilowatt engine can easily turn branches up to 8 cm wide into chips, and we can’t even talk about all sorts of herbaceous plants.
Cons are as follows:
- Too much noise. No matter how good the muffler is, but revving on wide branches, even the most branded and best gas-powered garden shredder will scare away all the birds in the area and lift all the neighbors out of bed. Although, as practice shows, this does not stop owners who own a huge garden and a personal plot.
- A lot of fuss and dirt. Refueling, oil change, exhaust, spending on fuel and lubricants. All this together and makes most owners refuse to buy gasoline shredders.
Don't forget about convenience
Along with general factors, when choosing a model, one should pay attention to its other features thatat first they will seem not so critical, but later they will make your life much easier and, in particular, working with the device. So, regardless of the power of the model and the brand of its manufacturer, you should pay attention to:
- The width and height of the wheels. The higher and wider they are, the easier it will be for you to move the mechanism over the obstacles of the landscape. For example, a model with small wheels will literally have to be dragged onto the curb with their own hands, while large wheels may hardly feel it. Narrow wheels will always get stuck in loose soil, while wide ones will pass freely wherever you want, and with the least amount of effort.
- Mechanism weight. It will be very interesting if, after being delivered home, you find that you are not even able to drag him to the estate. First of all, this applies to fragile women who themselves are preparing to operate the purchased equipment.
- Number of speeds. For comfort and handling waste of various formations, it will be useful to purchase a model with several speeds. No wonder the top rating of garden shredders is full of models with reverse thrust. With it, it will be much easier to clean the shredder if it becomes clogged.
- Number of funnels. It will be more efficient to work with a chopper equipped with two funnels, one for branches, the other for grass.
- Container for collecting shredded waste. Someone prefers the "trash" to fly into a container or bag, for someone it is not so critical, but you also need to take this into account when buying.
- Tools included with the model. A self-respecting manufacturerwill provide the future client with various devices and tools that facilitate the maintenance and cleaning of the unit.
Since amateur models are in the greatest demand today, we will first of all consider the most popular models on electronic traction. Chopper rating - further in the article.
Bosch AXT Rapid 2000
The rating of electric garden shredders is rightfully headed by Bosch. Positive customer reviews about this brand are the most numerous. Most often, inexpensive Bosch AXT Rapid 2000 models are purchased. With their relatively low weight (only 11 kg) and a power of 2 kW, they can process up to 80 kg of waste per hour.
AL-KO Easy Crush MH 2800
This "Chinese" at this stage is the most tangible competition to his European counterparts. With a weight of 25 kg and a power of 2.8 kW, it copes well with branches over 4 cm thick. Among other things, it has an unusually large container for collecting wood chips (mulch) - 50 kg.
Viking GE 250
Austrian models of this brand have long settled in the top lists of the garden equipment rating. This model is no exception. Due to its compactness, convenience, reliability, it is popular throughout Europe. Due to the non-standard shredder, which shreds the waste first with 2 disc knives, and then with additional blades, the mulch is the smallest.
Grunhelm ES-24
This is one of the most budget Chinese models, weighing only 12 kg, but with a power of 2.4 kW. It is very compact and easy to use, but is relatively short-lived. In addition, it is especially worth paying attention to the fragile material of the case. But one way or another, for a year (namely, as long as the manufacturer guarantees it), the model will work like clockwork.
Bison ZIE-44-2800
It would be wrong not to mention in the fifth line the most popular models of shredders from our manufacturers. And the garden shredder "Zubr ZIE-44-2800" is honored with such an honor. Convenient operation, high power (2.8 kW), coupled with a durable shredder based on a cutting shaft made of high-strength and high-quality steel, puts this model on a par with the most successful Western manufacturers of garden equipment. Criteria such as quiet operation, a 5-year warranty, coupled with high power, the ability to grind branches over 4 cm and a 60 kg container for collecting shredded waste, speak for themselves.
In addition to the text of the article, readers can use this video information about how to choose a chopper correctly and according to what criteria.
Conclusion
Don't be seduced by expensive and powerful gasoline semi-professional shredders. In most cases, people give up on them after the first season and buy a cheaper, more compact and easy-to-use electric model. If maintenance of your backyard consists of seasonal pruning of fruit and ornamental trees and bushes, the diameter of which often does not exceed 1 cm, why pay more and buy a bulky unit that will then gather dust in the back of the utility room unclaimed?
