How to dispose of garden waste - do you really need a garden shredder?

Compost, bonfire or take to the recycling centre? Disposing of garden waste and clippings takes time, effort (and usually money, too). How a garden shredder can help, plus tips on choosing a garden shredder.
Note that links to Amazon are affiliate, which means I may get a small fee if you buy, but it won't affect the price you pay and I only recommend products I buy and use myself. We bought the Bosch garden shredder with our own money at the publicly stated price, and this video has not been sponsored in any way.

00:00 Do you have too much garden waste?

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For small and middlesized backyards and gardens....

Note: links to Amazon are affiliate which means I get a small fee for qualifying purchases. It doesn't affect the price you pay and I only recommend things I use myself or really think you'd like!

[TheMiddlesizedGarden]

There are some useful comments here on using 'bin' incinerators and other extra tips, so do read them!

[teresadaley]

I agree with every thing you have said but would like to add a further suggestion. Fresh soft vegetation almost instantly clogs my shredder so I just spread out the SOFT material and go over it with the lawn mower. There is a very worthwhile reduction in volume and also the shreddings decompose rapidly in the compost pile

[ChristopherDraws]

Your videos are always so well written and presented, I really appreciate the work you put into them.
I'm one of those millenials who are struggling to get a place with a garden, so marooned in a flat, but storing up all this information that one day I hope to be able to use. With luck, I'll end up with a garden half as beautiful as yours is.

[cherylmontgomery]

Brillant, helpful, articulate & concise presentation - a consummate professional!
Much appreciated 😊

[nowthenad]

THAT is a middle-sized garden? Bloomin' 'eck!

[samuel]

Bought a shredder today on Facebook. Cost £10 and does the job nicely. Very happy with the product for the cost especially as private landscaper. This speeds up the waste time by almost double and I use the mulch it makes under the soil as it decomposes it make mine and my clients soil richer.

[jnschannel]

No fancy camera work? No effects? No emphasis on product? Is this even a useful video???? Yes it is!!! Awesome very well explained, on point about practicality. Have helped me made a decision to hold on buying a shredder.I will try the Regular quick short maintenance to avoid huge garden wastes.

[colinmiles]

Very good presentation - thank you. I decided to go for a petrol shredder as my compost bins are at the end of my garden (150ft). I chose a Forest Master Compact 6HP Petrol Garden Shredder Mulcher Chipper FM6DD-MUL. I have been very pleased with it. It self feeds long prunings with ease. I find hedge clippings a bit of a trial as they get easily jammed. However, if you take your time (as explained in this video) its fine. The shreddings are cut very fine and start to decompose almost immediately. My bins are quite big (around 2m2) but hopefully this will yield a fair amount of compost for years to come!

[wellingtonsboots]

I took my parents shredder when they passed. I hardly ever used it at first, but now i use it all the time. Great for mulching and getting rid of garden waste fast. It has improved my garden. Thank you enjoyed this.

[j.m.]

This was timely for me. Your detailed review and thoughts helped me decide I do not need one! I will save the money for plants and soil amendments. It is always a pleasure to watch your videos. Thanks, Alexandra!

[claireleung]

Thank you for this video Alexandra. I have been contemplating whether to buy a small incinerator or shredder this year and your video comes right on time🤗. And this helps me make up my mind.

[chrisp]

Wow! Someone who has thought about what they want to say beforehand! Very useful and clear, thank you!

[gerdaho]

Thanks for this, just at the right time. Very informative and complete and you confirmed our choice of chipper. I love watching and learning from you and your garden and guests!

[piginentry]

What an excellent video. Really well written and presented. Some really good advice and pointers. Thank you so much.

[threeriversforge]

Excellent walk-through. One thing I recommend is to put the shredded material right back into the beds and let it compost in place. Saves the hassle of having to move things around, and it's exactly as nature designed things to work. The fresh clippings are a wonderful, nutrient-rich resource for the plants as well as the soil biome. Plus, it's a timed-release fertilizer, the different bits breaking down at different times. A compost bin is great for the household waste you want to break down, and adding grass clippings and the odd bit of brown material sure doesn't hurt, but overall, I generally just "chop and drop" because that provides the best return on the investment.

[mml]

You have a gift for answering questions I didn’t need know I needed ! New to gardening and so many factors to think about 🌳 🌱 💐

[samspencer]

Excellent review. So clear and thorough.

[ritasicari]

Very thorough and informative info. Thank you.

[marciakayser]

I rake my leaves into a large trash barrel and shred them with a weed whacker before dumping in the compost bin. I use a hand-cranked shredder ( like a large baby food mill) for my kitchen scraps before putting into my compost tumbler. Low tech and efficient.

[arizonasunshine]

I so enjoy your gardening videos. Thank you!