A shredder is designed to deal with all the material that is cut from a tree or bush whereas a woodchipper is primarily designed to process the waste wood.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

While a mulcher is a similar tool to a chipper, it is geared more towards domestic use. They are perfect for handling and turning plants and foliage into fine natural mulch.

Looking a lot like small woodchippers, mulchers are also called ‘shredders’ or ‘leaf shredders’ and are great tools for managing lighter garden waste – like dead leaves, twigs, plant matter, wood chips and smaller garden trimmings.

Mulchers are not generally designed to deal with large tree branches or other bigger and tougher wood and waste materials.

Mulch can then be used to top dress beds and borders to add nutrients to the soil, retain moisture/water in the ground, suppress weeds and give a decorative top finish.

Using semi-blunt blades, mulchers mash and shred organic material to prepare it for composting and more compact disposal.

Size matters

All chippers and mulchers have a maximum branch size that they can work with, so choose a chipper that is robust and big enough to tackle your toughest job.

Mulchers and shredders are typically less powerful than woodchippers which means they can’t break down larger branches. Designed to handle softer, smaller garden trimmings when using a mulcher or leaf shredder will prolong the life of your gardening equipment.

For many landscapers and gardeners, if the bulk of the material generated is green waste, hedge clippings and brambles, then a shedder will process this type of material faster and more efficiently than a woodchipper.

A woodchipper is a better solution if you are cutting down trees and processing the waste wood and only have small amounts of green waste.

Green waste material can be moist and clog up standard chippers which will need to be unblocked.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ro0z0gkWirwIf soil or small stones and roots are present the chipper blades could require sharpening more often, so keep checking.

How to use the shredded material

It is recommended to process the material on site where it is cut to minimise the manual handling of the waste material and be more time efficient.

Now is also a good time to empty your compost bins. By laying down compost now, by spring it will have broken down and deliver vital nutrients for a rich soil for the planting season. Mulched grass clippings also act as an excellent mulch for beds and borders offering protection and important moisture retention.

What is a mulching mower? 

A mulching mower is a type of rotary mower. Most lawnmowers come with a collection box to collect the clippings, but mulching mowers instead chop up the clippings very finely and deposit them back into the turf. The clippings are barely visible. 

Using a mulching mower will return nutrients back to the root zone. However, when mulching mowers are used for very lush growth (when the grass is long), the excess clippings may have to be collected and placed on the compost heap. Some models give the option of mulching or collecting the clippings.

Mulching mowers

At £349.00, the AL-KO Push Petrol Mulching Mower is a 46cm cut hand-propelled mulching mower which will also side discharge grass cuttings. It cuts and mulches grass clippings into fine particles which are blown down onto the lawn increasing moisture and nutrients to the grass roots. The side discharge option is great for cutting grass in areas where the growth is longer, and the clippings can be left to wilt back naturally.

For larger areas, ride on mulching mowers save time and energy while mowing your lawn. Instead of collecting the grass and having to empty the grass collection unit, mulching mowers cut and recut the grass trimmings into tiny particles. The particles are then blown down into the lawn, virtually unnoticeable. The trimmings then wilt into the soil, adding essential nutrients.

The popular Mountfield 827M Compact Petrol Ride-On Mower at £1699.00, is exclusively available at Mowers Online.

This is an ideal entry-level ride-on for smaller lawns and gardens as it has an overall width of only 73cm. The 827M offers 2 mowing functions as standard direct collect and side discharge. 

Cobra shredders

The Cobra QS2500 electric garden shredder is priced at £209.00. This is a great domestic garden shredder, lightweight, portable but powerful. Garden shredders are useful items of power equipment help to cut down on the size and amount of garden waste. Use them to shred hedge and tree clippings to a manageable size for garden mulch or compost. The Cobra Quiet shredder uses a powerful 2500w electric motor which helps the machine cut through organic waste up to 40mm in diameter.

The Cobra CHIP650L petrol shredder retails at £784.99 and is a powerful yet compact wood chipper and garden shredder. The power comes from the 196cc professional quality Loncin petrol engine which can handle branches and garden waste up to 3” (80mm) in diameter.

The unique hinged design on the discharge chute allows easy access to the blades for cleaning and maintenance. It is easy to manoeuvre the chipper with its large wheels and sturdy front handle. An emergency safety brake has been fitted for added protection for the operator.

We offer free delivery on all products from Mowers Online in the UK. We can also service and supply all the required spare blades and parts.