Garden shredders transform bulky branches into space-saving wood chips. There are knife shredders and roller shredders powered by electricity or gasoline. Each model has specific advantages and disadvantages. You can find out the most important differences here. These tips get to the heart of how to chop branches correctly.
How can I chop branches properly?
To properly shred branches, use a suitable garden shredder, wear protective equipment such as gloves and safety glasses, place the shredder on solid ground, wait for full speed and use the emergency shutdown in the event of a malfunction.
Knife shredder versus roller shredder
A wide range of powerful garden shredders leaves the hobby gardener spoiled for choice. The following overview is peppered with important information about the advantages and disadvantages so that you can make the right purchase decision.
Knife Chopper – The Berserker
Knife shredders shred branches with rotating blades on a flywheel that reaches a whopping 4000 revolutions per minute.
- Advantages: ideal for fresh cuttings, shredded branches are perfect for mulching paths, beds and tree slices
- Disadvantages: very loud, high knife wear, cheap devices cannot handle thicker branches
Roller shredder – the quiet shredder
The operating principle is based on a slowly rotating roller that crushes branches and other clippings. During this process the wood fibers are broken down and not cut.
- Advantages: whisper-quiet, ideal for hard wood and thick branches, chopped material can be used for compost
- Disadvantages: not useful for wet branches or damp leaves, clippings cannot be used as mulch
Give preference to a shredder (€259.00 at Amazon) with these safety criteria: short knife follow-up time, automatic engine stop and restart protection in the event of malfunctions, high filler neck to ensure sufficient distance between hand and cutting unit.
Safety has priority – chop branches professionally
Garden shredders don't care whether they shred branches or fingers. Important safety precautions must be observed to ensure that no harm occurs to you in the heat of the moment. How to chop branches correctly:
- Protective equipment: put on cut-resistant gloves, safety glasses, sturdy shoes and protective clothing
- Stability: Place the shredder on level, solid ground
- Observe speed: wait for full speed at the beginning, then fill in branches
- Emergency shutdown: If there is any malfunction, first switch off the shredder and only then eliminate the malfunction
The garden is taboo for children and pets when you work with the chipper.
Tip
Saving hobby gardeners do not invest money in loud, expensive garden shredders, but rather dispose of clippings for the benefit of nature. Branches are the ideal building material for a rustic deadwood hedge as a privacy screen or fence. When piled up in a pile with a cover of leaves and pine fronds, thin and thick branches make themselves useful as winter quarters for hedgehogs and other small animals in need.
