Garden chipper/shredder

[annedonnelly]

With my new garden I've inherited some very big Leylandii type trees which are coming out. I'm gradually removing the lower branches and letting in lots more light which the neighbours are very happy about.

I'm thinking of getting a chipper/shredder to help deal with the waste. I'm looking at those offered at Screwfix/Toolstation/B&Q etc. Looking at electric ones around the £100-£150 price bracket. Looking at reviews they all have good ones but then you look at the other end of the scale and a few people will say they're useless and fail or jam all the time. They then suggest that brand "X" is much better. I look at brand "X" and the reviews are similar and then someone suggests brand "Y".

Any ideas? Once it's done the Leylandii there'll be a rhododendron to deal with...

 

[Gwylan]

I'd really suggest a tree surgeon with a proper chipper. It will be quick, everything will be taken away. Make sure they can grind out the stumps. Tell them you won't pay until they have.

Cost a bit more than a domestic chipper but it's quick and easy. Saves you the aggro of the whole adventure.

Move on to the gentler aspects of gardening.

 

[Chromatic]

I‘ve got one of these: https://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-ax...SBS29OlPS1yUpl__OMZ7hlDlzHr26NVgaAjVaEALw_wcB

Might be considered a bit spendy compared to the ones you’ve been looking at but it is good and if you will keep having stuff to chip in the future then probably worth it.

 

[VinSumRox]

We've a 2.5kw shredder and it's really useful, however Leylandii branches seem to clog it up more often than other cuttings as they are tough and fibrous.

 

[raleighnut]

We've a 2.5kw shredder and it's really useful, however Leylandii branches seem to clog it up more often than other cuttings as they are tough and fibrous.

Not to mention full of sap that's stickier than superglue.

 

[Tail End Charlie]

I'd really suggest a tree surgeon with a proper chipper. It will be quick, everything will be taken away. Make sure they can grind out the stumps. Tell them you won't pay until they have.

Cost a bit more than a domestic chipper but it's quick and easy. Saves you the aggro of the whole adventure.

Move on to the gentler aspects of gardening.

This is good advice, if the trees are coming out anyway, it won't add much to the cost to grind the stumps and have the branches shredded.

If you need/ want a shredder after that, I'd get one which uses a drum to crush the branches and then chops them up. Cheaper ones use a number of rotating blades to chop them up, which is very noisy. The drum type is far quieter (although more expensive) and has a sort of Brazilian samba rhythm when operating. Your neighbours will be doubly pleased.

 

[T4tomo]

using a domestic chipper for several big Leylandii is akin to attempting to shred a javelin with school pencil-case pencil sharpener

 

[Electric_Andy]

We did similar but just cut the branches into managable pieces and took to the recycling centre. Less mess, no chipper or tree surgeon required. We also burnt a lot but you have to have a really hot fire going otherwise they'll just smoke. When buying a gadget I always have to think about if I'll use it again. Or see if you can find one on FB marketplace; a lot of people buy them new for one job and then sell on. Or the blades go blunt and they think it's broken - see how easy it is to sharpen the blades and maybe consider trying a used one? £20-£30 lost is the worst case scenario, but it might work ok with some TLC and chain sawing the branches into managable sizes first. Maybe split them down the middle if you can

 

[oxoman]

I've got a macallister one and tbh it does ok shredding Hazel branches, not tried on leylandi. Personally I'd get someone else to do it for you properly.

 

[Sharky]

We did similar but just cut the branches into managable pieces and took to the recycling centre.

Same here. Just used long handle secateurs and filled up several black bins, then took them to the tip.

 

[T4tomo]

Same here. Just used long handle secateurs and filled up several black bins, then took them to the tip.

I've inherited some very big Leylandii type trees

How many black bin bags though 50 -100 ??

 

[MontyVeda]

With my new garden I've inherited some very big Leylandii type trees which are coming out. I'm gradually removing the lower branches and letting in lots more light which the neighbours are very happy about.

I'm thinking of getting a chipper/shredder to help deal with the waste. I'm looking at those offered at Screwfix/Toolstation/B&Q etc. Looking at electric ones around the £100-£150 price bracket. Looking at reviews they all have good ones but then you look at the other end of the scale and a few people will say they're useless and fail or jam all the time. They then suggest that brand "X" is much better. I look at brand "X" and the reviews are similar and then someone suggests brand "Y".

Any ideas? Once it's done the Leylandii there'll be a rhododendron to deal with...

hire one?

 

[fossyant]

We have a MacAllister 2800w one (£159) and have had it a few years. It uses a bladed drum to crush and chip the branches and well do upto about 40-50,

Not tried Leylandii as we've only 3 small (under 5ft) as part of a hedge. We usually put cherry trees and buddleia through the muncher. Did a great job of the cherry trees at weekend and we had loads of chippings I could use for weed suppressant.

Always best catching trees etc either early in leaf or once the leaves have dropped as they clog the mechanism.

I've just caught the cherry trees as soon as they finished blossoming - needed to lop quit a few feet off the tops as they were cutting down light to our garden too much (they grow very fast).

 

[Dogtrousers]

Me experience of garden shredders is not great.

About 15-20 years ago I bought one. Possibly Black & Decker. Probably not the smallest/ cheapest on offer at the time - I tend to choose fancier things.

Anyway, I found it to be frustratingly jam-prone unless the waste was given a few months to dry out. This obviously needs time and space and I've now got a shed where my unsightly waste pile used to be. It was ok if all the input was dry. I was dealing with branches generally less than 2-3 cm thick. Mostly a lot less.

I was not dealing with leylandii. I imagine that would be especially cloggy.

I now pay for a green waste bin. Winter cutting back of trees/shrubs goes in there. I sometimes have a backlog of stuff waiting to go in the bin during that season but it soon catches up.

If you have a big one-off job I'd go with other recommendations above : send for the professionals, hire a professional grade chipper or find another way of disposing if it (tip / garden waste bin / contractor)

My shredder is now at the bottom of a junk pile in the garage.

 

[SuffolkBlue]

The Neighbour and I recently had a massive (inherited) Leylandii hedge removed. One section was as tall as the house. Most of it was dead and we removed before the start of the "nesting season".

The contractor pulled them all up with a mini excavator with a grab fitted. Turns out that Leylandii roots can be quite shallow. He took the waste (not shredded) in multiple trailer loads to a local biofuels plant for them to process.

My only experience of a tree surgeon shredding waste was there was a lot more in terms of volume than I expected !!!