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Tuesday Tools & Products: Leaf Shredders
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Written by Heleigh Bostwick
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
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For those of you wondering what to do with the huge pile of leaves that has accumulated in the yard, a leaf shredder might be one solution. There are several benefits to using a leaf shredder. first and foremost is reducing the amount of organic matter into a more manageable quantity. The leaf shredder pictured above, which is a simple electric power version, reduces the quantity from 11 bags of leaves to one—a significant reduction. The second is that shredded leaves breakdown much faster if you are considering composting them or using them for mulch.
Leaf shredding is especially useful if you have non-native trees on your property. The leaves of these trees do not decompose as readily as native species, a Norway maple as opposed to a red maple for example. In addition, when using shredded leaves as mulch, the insulating properties are much better—fewer air pockets.
Leaf shredders are sold as one of three types; cut and crush, cut and shred, and one strictly for leaf shredding. The first is more powerful and able to crush and shred twigs and small branches. The second is less powerful and is designed for leaves and soft twigs. The third is used for leaves, pine needles, and paper. If shredding leaves is your main concern, stick to the latter type of leaf shredder, which typically has several settings including fine, coarse, wet, and dry, depending on the leaf conditions.
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