Chippers, Shredders & Mulchers

Chippers, Shredders, and Mulchers

When you need to clean up debris from your lawn, whether it be dead leaves that fall every autumn, or a tree that has fallen after a particularly strong storm, chippers, shredders, and mulchers are useful for getting this task done. Not only are these machines designed to make the task of removing debris easier, but you can then use the by-products for a number of practical applications. There are both electric and gasoline-powered leaf mulchers, chipper shredders, and blowers available.

Chipper/Shredder combination tools are intended to help with various yard cleanup projects, from broken tree branches to fallen leaves. Using a chipper shredder can help take what would have been useless trash and shred or chip it into a useful resource. Yard waste can be turned into compost and mulch, while dead leaves can be turned into leaf-based compost as well. Even if you don't have a garden in which to use compost or mulch, using a chipper shredder to break them down makes the material easier to handle as it's turned into mulch. Instead of unwieldy branches and piles of leaves, you can shred them into much more manageable chips or finely ground leaf dust. Use a blower with a powerful engine along with your shredder or leaf mulcher to make removing debris from your leaf-covered yard even simpler.

This comes down to a single basic question: Do you want to have greater convenience or greater raw power? Electric chipper shredders are able to run as long as you have an electrical outlet in reach, and you don't have to worry about keeping a supply of gasoline on hand to power it. Gas-powered shredders are able to make the most of the energy available in the gasoline to provide more shredding power than a similarly sized electric motor. However, you must make sure that you have enough fuel on hand to keep it running during use.

For most projects, an electric model will be sufficient, but for more heavy-duty applications, a gas-powered model may be necessary in order to get through the material in a reasonable amount of time. Before beginning your project, make sure you take into account the size of your yard, as well as the average diameter of the branches you'll be working with, as these may help you determine what kind of shredder or leaf mulcher to use.

You can find chippers and shredders from a number of manufacturers, including: WORX, Troy-Bilt, Brush Master, Dr. Power, and more. WORX offers an extensive line of chipper shredders, shredders, mulchers, and blowers designed for simpler leaf removal and more effective mulch and compost production.

As with any equipment, following proper safety protocols is very important in order to prevent serious injuries. When using a chipper shredder, make sure that you are wearing the right safety equipment. This is an important first step to creating a safe work environment. When dealing with jams, don’t reach into the machine to retrieve the blockage, and make sure that the engine is shut off completely. Use a stick or other disposable item with a long rod to keep your hands a safe distance from the machinery. If your blower, mulcher, or shredder shuts off unexpectedly, make sure you have enough fuel in the gas cart before continuing.