Keep your garden looking good!

Instead of loading up your garden waste and taking it to a household waste site, you could save yourself time and trouble by using a garden shredder.

Why use a garden shredder?

• Save time - A garden shredder can save you time by helping you to deal with your garden waste quickly and easily.
• Make better compost - When you add material from your garden shredder to your compost, it can help to provide the right mix of ‘greens’ and ‘browns’ and help the compost to rot down quickly. By providing a good mix of ingredients, you can save yourself a lot of work later.  You may not even need to turn the compost to aerate it. Keep a supply of shredded woody waste near your compost bin, so you can add it to grass cuttings and other green leafy material as it arises.  Well made compost can improve your soil.  Just watch the garden benefit!
• Make better mulch - Mulching helps to conserve water and control weeds with the minimum of effort.  You can use your shredded garden waste as excellent mulch.  Just remove any weeds and water the ground thoroughly.  Spread the shreddings about 5cm deep and do not dig them in.  Eventually they will decay and be incorporated into the soil by worms leaving space for more mulch next year.
• Enhance paths - Depending on the type of shredder you have, you can use the material to make decorative pathways in your garden. 
• Enjoy a better garden - There is no doubt that a garden shredder can help you to keep your garden looking its best.  With a shredder you can turn your garden waste into really useful material.
• Reduce fire risk - Avoid the dangers of bonfires by shredding your garden waste instead.
• Make fewer journeys - Save time and money by not having to transport green waste to your local household waste site.  This also helps to reduce follow-on transport and processing costs. 
• Reduce your waste - Your council encourages you to reduce, re-use and recycle waste from your home and garden as part of the Mission Impossible campaign.

Choose your garden shredder

Things to look for when buying a shredder

• How quiet is it? Some shredders are much quieter than others.
• Is it self-feeding? Self-feeding shredders are often quicker to use.
• What thickness of branches will it take? Most shredders will handle branches of thicknesses that can be easily cut with a standard pair of loppers.
• How powerful is the motor? Generally, the more powerful the motor, the less likelihood of garden waste jamming in the machine.  A motor which is geared can help to minimise jams.
• How much does it weigh? There are some very good lightweight all-purpose shredders on the market.
• How long will the cutting machinery last before it needs sharpening or replacing? Some shredders require regular blade sharpening or replacing.
• What does your garden waste consist of? Make sure the shredder you buy will adequately handle your type of garden waste.

Herefordshire Council and Worcestershire County Council do not supply garden shredders and give no warranty as to the availability, suitability or quality of garden shredders from any particular supplier or at all.