If you find you're constantly clearing up large piles of garden leaves and messy shrubbery, a garden shredder could help you out. As a handy garden gadget that chops and slices your garden waste into a fine and manageable mulch, garden shredders can help declutter your beloved outdoor space in a speedy manner. They also allow you to create a greener garden as you can recycle your garden waste, and use it as compost.
When you’re choosing a garden shredder, you’ll need to think about what you’re shredding, as some devices are suitable for shredding softer material such as stems and leaves from herbaceous perennials, whereas others are more suitable for cutting harder materials including twigs and branches. It’s worth noting the branch diameter each shredder can handle too.
We've included a range of designs in our roundup of the best garden shredders, from neat electric options, to multi-functional engine powered tools, so you can find a suitable choice for your gardening needs.
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Best garden shredders for 2024
Bosch Shredder AXT 25 TC
If you’re worried about disturbing your neighbours with noisy equipment, this quiet garden shredder from Bosch could be one to consider! It features low noise emissions to allow for less disruption.
The turbine-cut system is uniquely designed for both wood and green material, so you shouldn’t have to worry about separating out your garden waste, making it an efficient pick. It can shred up to 230kg of material per hour, and has a cutting capacity of 45mm, so it’s a solid choice if you’re looking to shred lots of branches.
The removable hopper can be taken out in one motion, and it fits snuggly inside the collection box. It’s not too bulky either if you’re tight on space, as it’s 67cm in height when packed away.
This is a great choice if you’re looking to create your own compost, as you can shred soft plant material along with branches and shrubbery which should form a suitable compost mixture.
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Hyundai Electric Garden Shredder
This is another pick with a cutting diameter of 45mm, and it’s also a top option for shredding branches and twigs. It features a handy bag so you can scoop up your wood chippings in one smooth motion, and you could also use the bag for storage too.
The detachable bag should help to keep your outdoor space clean and tidy, so you don’t have lots of extra sweeping to do.
With a cord length of 10m, and a portable wheeled design, you can effortlessly move this Hyundai shredder around the garden, and choose your favourite work spot. It’s an electric shredder if you’d rather not deal with fuel, and it has a 2.4kW motor.
Spear and Jackson S28ES Crushing Quiet Garden Shredder
Described as Spear and Jackson's most powerful garden shredder, this pick features a 2.8kW motor and a steel drum cutter blade.
It’s capable of shredding branches up to 42mm in diameter, and it can hold up to 60 litres, so you can shred a large amount in one go. It's therefore a helpful addition to your garden equipment collection if you're keen to bring some order to an overgrown garden.
You can make use of the reverse function to help with any frustrating jammed branches blocking the system, and there’s also a plunger you can use which helps to keep your hands safe when you're operating the machinery.
It has a fairly short cable length of 3m, but thanks to the wheels, it’s easy to transport.
Bosch AXT Rapid 2200
This is our second Bosch garden shredder on the list, but this one is a lot slimmer, so it’s one to consider if you’re after a lighter design! In comparison to the larger model, it can shred up to 80kg per hour, so considerably less than 230kg, but if you have a smaller garden, this shredder could do the job nicely.
It’s primarily designed for shredding soft, green material, and it can handle wood-containing waste, so you can use it to tidy up any woody garden debris.
It has laser-cut precision blades for effective and efficient results, and it has a cutting capacity of 4mm. Its neat design means you could easily store it away in a small garden shed, as it’s not too awkward a shape, and – if you're lugging it to where it's needed – it’s lightweight too at 12kg.
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Ryobi RSH3045U
This 3000W impact shredder is designed to grind branches and shrubs into a fine mulch. It's a pretty solid design if you're looking for a sturdy garden shredder, but thanks to the large wheels and handle, you should be able to manoeuvre it around no problem. It can hold 40L of shredded material, and it features a safety plunger to ensure your hands are kept far away from the sharp blades.
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Feider FBT70 Petrol Shredder
If you'd rather opt for a petrol fuelled garden shredder, this option is suited to harder materials and woody waste including twigs and small branches. It can also shred softer materials such as hedge-cuttings and leaves, making it an ideal choice if you have varying materials you're keen to clean up.
With petrol machines, you don't have to worry about plugs or sourcing a suitable extension lead, so they could work well for large gardens where power points are difficult to reach.
It has a chipping capacity of 44mm, and there's a convenient chute so you can easily chuck in your waste.
STIHL SH 56-CE Vacuum Shredder
If you're looking for something that's both practical and fun to use, this multi-purpose gadget from Stihl could be the one. It not only turns your leaves, hedge-clippings and grass-cuttings into mulch, but picks them up too. So you can hoover up the mess, and shred at the same time! The petrol vacuum-shredder weighs 5.2kg, and there's a shoulder-strap so you can work in comfort.
The ignition system requires just a two-fingered pull, so you can efficiently, and effortlessly, crack on with the task at hand.
It claims to reduce your garden waste to a tenth of its original size, so it's a great choice if you're looking to create more space in your garden. It makes the job of keeping your garden in immaculate condition for you and your garden guests to enjoy that little bit easier.
Buy the STIHL SH 56-CE Vacuum Shredder now from MowDirect (£319)
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