If you think this is another article where we’ll leave you with 10 product reviews only, you’re wrong. Today, we’ll discuss garden shredders, and by that, I mean we’ll talk about everything there is to know about these. 

If you’re an avid gardener, you must know how hard it is to get rid of the debris left after you’re done clipping the extra leaves and twigs. If you’re new to gardening, you must be confused as to what to do with them. 

This is where garden shredders come in. This little equipment is being used for hundreds of years, but thanks to our friends at the innovation departments, now they’re run by electricity! 

Electric garden shredders can make your hobby easier to maintain, as these automatic machines will shred through the leftovers you feed them. Not only can you dispose of the debris, but you can turn them into compost too, which will help your plants grow better. 

As you can see, electric garden shredders can provide three tangible benefits. Firstly, they’ll keep your garden free from leftovers, two, the entire process will get much easier for you, and three, you’ll be able to make compost on your own very easily. They are also relatively moderate to maintain.

However, there are thousands of products drifting on the internet, and it’s only natural if you get confused. To help you with that, we’ve listed only the best garden shredders you can find online. Let’s get right to it!

Top 5 Best Electric Garden Shredders Reviews:

1. WORX 13 Amp HP (B002MAPZYC):

Product Description:

If you’re looking for a compact, good looking, and overall efficient garden shredder, then the WORX 13 Amp HP is the best product for you. Although this doesn’t look like the garden shredder type you usually find, trust me, you’ll love its design. Plus, the unique design of this shredder makes it very unique, which is a great selling point!

The WORX 13 Amp HP is a quiet garden shredder, and it doesn’t come with any blade to shred the debris. Rather, it hosts a unique shredding system of its own that offers an 11:1 ratio. 

The WORX 13 Amp HP can be broken down into pieces for more convenient storage. The best part about this shredder is that you don’t need any tool to assemble or disassemble this shredder. This makes the WORX 13 Amp HP a great DIY shredder. 

This garden shredder features a Flex-A-line shredding system, and it’s a trademark process of WORX. With this system, WORX ensures an 11:1 ratio of mulch, which is one of the best in the world. 

Product Design and Quality:

The WORX 13 Amp HP has a huge opening so that you can feed larger and thicker debris in it. You can enter a branch of 13 inches of diameter into it, which is huge comparing to the industry standard, especially if you consider how small and compact this device is. 

Then again, the WORX 13 Amp HP features an 8500 per minute cutting speed. This is quite capable of mulching a lot of debris in a short span of time. The motor cooling system is designed in such a way that it doesn’t accumulate any dust while it cools. You’ll find it very convenient as any external dust or shredded bit won’t enter the motor, or its cooling system, reducing the necessity of cleaning them. 

Product Features:

• High power for higher cutting speed and efficiency
• 11:1 mulching ratio
• Ultra-compact design
• Extremely light
• Very quiet, doesn’t come with any fans

Product Link: Click Here

2. Snow Joe CJ601E (B007VX11O8):

Product Description:

You can consider the Snow Joe CJ601E as a combination of the products mentioned above. This isn’t too compact, or light neither is it too bulky. Then again, it packs quite a punch when it comes to the power delivery but can’t beat the previous products. 

The Snow Joe CJ601E can reach up to 4300 rpm, which is significantly lesser than the WORX shredder, but considering it can shred branches up to 1.5 inches thickness only, the power delivery seems just right. 

It also offers a great mulching capability, and it offers a ratio of 16:1, which is slightly better than the WORX garden shredder. 

The Snow Joe CJ601E also features six-inch wheels. We found these wheels to be most convenient as these allowed us to carry the shredder across the garden very easily. Then again, there’s a safety lock that keeps the trigger from setting off with an accidental press.

Product Design and Quality:

The Snow Joe CJ601E is built to be a versatile garden shredder. It is not only powerful, but it can be maneuvered and used very easily. Although it can’t take in too thick debris, it’ll provide enough width if you only shred leaves, twigs, and thin branches. The Snow Joe CJ601E features a 14-amp motor to get the job done. 

Product Features:

• A powerful motor of 14amp that can reach up to 4300rpm
• Can shred branches of 1.5-inch thickness at max
• Compact design can be moved around easily 
• Features six-inch wheels
• Safety lock
• 16:1 reduction ratio

Product Link: Click Here

3. PowerSmart PS10 (B01GIQAB2G):

Product Description:

The PowerSmart PS10 is a very capable garden shredder, and it’s a quiet shredder. It comes with a 15-amp motor, which is more powerful than the WORX garden shredder’s motor. However, this ga rden shredder has its disadvantages, which is why we placed it in fourth place.

The PowerSmart PS10 comes with two six-inch wheels so that you can carry this around. What’s interesting is that there’s a solid extension in front of the wheels, and this provides superb stability. It’s very thoughtful of PowerSmart to add this convenient feature. 

Although there are great advantages to this, there are certain disadvantages too. For starters, the opening of this shredder is very small. You can fit in a 1.5-inch branch at maximum, which is very low compared to what most garden shredders can take in. 

Product Design and Quality:

The PowerSmart PS10 has a sturdy build, and it’ll last for a considerable number of years before you need to replace it. We certainly loved how conveniently this garden shredder is made. The addition of the stabilizer is very thoughtful, and it also features a safety lock, which makes us feel that the manufacturers really focused on the safety of this machine. 

Product Features:

• A powerful 15-amp motor
• Comes with two six-inch wheels for better mobility
• Has a stabilizer bar to keep it standing
• Comes with a safety lock 

Product Link: Click Here

4. Earthwise LM71313 Electric Leaf Mulcher/Shredder, Green:

Product Description:

If you’re on a tight budget and looking for a huge garden shredder, the Earthwise LM71313 might interest you. This garden shredder isn’t that premium, and we didn’t even expect it to be. You can get this shredder at a much lower cost than most other products on this list, but guess what? It’s huge! You can shred down branches of 1.75-inch thickness at max. 

The Earthwise features a 13-amp motor, which is enough for this machine. It’s a corded machine, but you’ll be able to carry it around the garden.

Product Design and Quality:

The Earthwise has two rear wheels that allow the user to carry it around. There are two stands at the front of this machine. These stands keep the garden shredder stable and static. 

This machine is made of high-quality materials like aluminum, plastic, and some other metals. 

Product Features:

• Leaf mulch shredder with a 19″ funnel opening and 13″ bladeless cutting diameter
• Power with 55 gals/min mulching capacity with 16:1 mulching ratio
• Powerful leaf shredder with a 13-Amp motor

Product Link: Click Here

5. Patriot CSV-2515 (B001KMZK3E):

Product Description:

If you’re looking for a powerful wood chipper or a leaf shredder, the Patriot CSV-2515 is an amazing choice for you. The machine houses a 14-amp motor, and the best part is that the motor doesn’t need any maintenance. This will save you a lot of time. 

The Patriot CSV-2515 is a quiet shredder. The hopper of this shredder is quite wide. You can feed branches of 2.5 inches at max. That’s why this shredder is very convenient if you want to chip thick branches with it. 

The shredded debris will directly move to a bag. You can decide whether to spread the mulch in your garden or to throw them away. 

Product Design and Quality:

The Patriot CSV-2515 is a big machine. Due to its huge size, it can shred thicker branches than most other shredder machines. However, it’s harder to move at the same time. The shredder comes with huge wheels, so it’s easier to move around, but the stabilizer could’ve been better. The product comes with a warranty, but if you buy their power cord, you’ll get an extended warranty period. 

Product Features:

• 14-amp motor for high power delivery
• The wide opening of 2.5 inches
• Comes with two huge wheels 
• Provides a debris bag

Product Link: Click Here

Tips on Creating Mulch:

Mulch is an easier alternative to compost. Creating compost can be tough and time-consuming, but mulch can be created very easily. You need to wait a lot to create compost but creating mulch won’t take any time at all!

To create mulch, you need to clip off the extra-long twigs, leaves, or branches of the plants of your garden first. Once you’re done with that, slowly feed these to the electric garden shredder until they’re completely shredded. This finely shredded plant debris is called mulch.

Now, you have to spread the mulch evenly in your garden. However, don’t create a thick layer. A layer of 3-inch maximum will do the trick. 

Can You Shred Cardboard in a Garden Shredder?

Cardboard has gained immense popularity among the gardeners as it can be turned into compost very easily. Shred some cardboard, dampen them up, and put them along with some plants or worms. The cardboards will turn into usable compost within three months! However, one question is asked very often, “Can you shred cardboard in a garden shredder?”

Yes, you can. Garden shredders are powerful enough to shred cardboard. So, you don’t need to worry when you’re putting cardboard in a garden shredder. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

How Many Types of Garden Shredders are There?

Yes, there are different types of electric garden shredders, and this difference is mostly in the noise they create. On this basis, there are two types of garden shredders, one is Impact garden shredder, and the other is Quiet garden shredder.

What are the Differences between Impact and Quiet Garden Shredders?

As we’ve said before, there are two types of electric garden shredders. Now, we’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both types so that you can choose the best one for you. 

Advantages of Impact Garden Shredders:

Impact garden shredders are far easier to use, as they are quite powerful. These shredders don’t get clogged easily, and they can handle most types of materials. Plus, most impact garden shredders are made in such a way that they can be maneuvered easily. Again, these shredders can easily shred huge objects like large branches. 

Disadvantages of Impact Garden Shredders:

Impact garden shredders do pack power, but they’re very loud, which is definitely a big problem if you prioritize peace of mind over a clean garden. Another thing with this is that you have to change the blades quite often. This happens because the impact garden shredders often take on more solid debris, and the blades get dull faster. 

Advantages of Quiet Garden Shredders:

Unlike the impact garden shredders, the quiet ones take a completely different approach. The Quiet garden shredders don’t come with any blades at all! Although this doesn’t allow them to take on the heavy loads like the Impact shredders, they’re capable of shredding down the twigs, leaves, and thinner branches. And this makes these very quiet! Plus, as there isn’t any blade in motion, you won’t have to take the pain of changing any part or maintaining the machine. 

Disadvantages of Quiet Garden Shredders:

The Quiet Garden Shredders are very convenient for home usage, but they come with some cons as well. For starters, these shredders can’t handle any sappy debris, which is why they get clogged very frequently. If you’re not using these carefully, you’ll have to clean them very frequently. 

Should You Use Wood Chips as Mulch?

What should you do with the wood chips that you shred down? Can you use these as mulch?

Yes, you obviously can use the wood chips as mulch. However, you need to make sure to plant below the wood chip layer. Otherwise, the layer of wood chips might just interfere with the roots, which will keep them from growing. 

Do You Need a Shredder with a Bag?

While some shredders will come with a bag, others won’t offer this. Do you need one?

This largely depends on your purpose. Are you going to throw the shredded debris away? Or will you use them as mulch? 

If you plan on using them as mulch, a shredder without any bag will do you good, as the mulch will get spread on the garden simultaneously. 

On the other hand, if you plan on throwing them out, you better get a shredder with a bag. Otherwise, you’ll have to spend a lot of time gathering the mulch from the ground and stacking them up. 

Bottom Line

Most of the garden shredders mentioned in our list of best electric garden shredder reviews are quiet ones. However, there are impact garden shredders as well. Now, it’s up to you to pick the right one for you. 

A word of warning, if you’re getting a quiet garden shredder, we recommend you not to feed it any sappy material. These garden shredders get clogged very easily, and it’ll be a great hassle to clean these up. So, pick wisely, and get the best garden shredder for yourself!