Need a garden shredder/grinder

jtuck2 Wed Aug 24, 2011 4:06 am

I'm realizing it takes forever to cut up stalks directly from the garden to be placed in the composter. I'd like to buy a shredder/grinder that works, but a lot of the reviews I read say the available ones are not good on "soft" or "green" materials.

I really have some heavy duty stuff to compost since summer is coming to a close and I want to start my fall garden.

They have good shredders for this purpose all over Europe (easily found by google search).

Does anyone have any suggestions where I can get something that will work for under $200?

Thanks in advance! bounce

**llama momma** Wed Aug 24, 2011 6:55 am

I am having the same issue.

This is my first corn season with about 60 stalks in my 4x4 and I've been thinking of a low cost way to "ready them" for the compost heap...all I can come up with is my lopper, normally used to cut small tree branches. And excess time to fool around with cutting up all those stalks. I will probably ask hubby with those man muscles to assist if I get tired of it. Hope this helps or gives you some ideas!

**camprn** Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:05 am

I saved all my fall leaves, garden litter and winter compost scraps and in the spring I borrowed a old, small Troy-Bilt chipper/shredder. It worked great. The machine was indeed designed for wood but it handled the softer material well, though the out chute frequently needed to be evacuated with a stick because of moisture in the mess. I had to shut it down about once an hour to really clear it out but it was worth the effort.

littlesapphire Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:25 am

I use my lawn mower! Ok, it won't work for everything, especially corn stalks or big sticks, but for leaves, weeds, and softer plants from the garden, it works wonderful. I attach the bag and close the side shoot, and all the mulched stuff goes right into the bag.

**camprn** Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:37 am

littlesapphire wrote:I use my lawn mower! Ok, it won't work for everything, especially corn stalks or big sticks, but for leaves, weeds, and softer plants from the garden, it works wonderful. I attach the bag and close the side shoot, and all the mulched stuff goes right into the bag.

This is actually how I pick up most of the leaves in my yard. The yard with an over abundance of shade trees. Shocked

Mamachibi Wed Aug 24, 2011 11:12 am

Machete and chopping block. Twisted Evil

jtuck2 Wed Aug 24, 2011 1:16 pm

You guys're great! Thanks!

I will consider the lawn mower idea while still looking, and I'll look into the manufacturer recommended as well. Had heard about the lawn mower but wasn't thinking about the bag since my husband doesn't use one...I'm not sure we even have one, but the mower is fairly new so we must.

Yes, that's what I had heard about the shredders, but once an hour doesn't sound too bad.

I'll let you know if I come up with any other ideas or specific models. I asked Pat Welsh on her website as well!

BTW....is there a way to get the post title to show up when you reply other than copying and pasting it? And my paragraphs always come out with double spacing in btwn.

Cheers! Jan:study:

boffer Wed Aug 24, 2011 1:55 pm

jtuck2 wrote:BTW....is there a way to get the post title to show up when you reply other than copying and pasting it? And my paragraphs always come out with double spacing in btwn.

Cheers! Jan:study:

The post title will be added automatically if you leave it blank, or you can change the post title.

Your second question is discussed here:
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t8553-spacing-issues

jtuck2 Wed Aug 24, 2011 2:06 pm

Thanks boffer, for the clarifications! Sure saves time not to worry about the title! And the pink/white thing is a synch (although maybe I'll sign in w/Foxfire from now on....but that freezes on me all the time).
I am now testing the white thing and I expect it will work!
Ah oh....now there is no space!

Now I'm pink again.....i'm using IE 9 which I did not intentionally download! A techie guy did when he was checking my computer when I thought I had a virus.

Oh, this is strange...now that I complained about it, it works in pink mode. hmmmm. Thought that was the default....anyway......I'm rambling!

AprilakaCCIL Wed Aug 24, 2011 2:58 pm

Mamachibi wrote:Machete and chopping block.

Now that's a real winner right there-->Just like how they did it in the old days (I like!). Cool

Goosegirl Wed Aug 24, 2011 9:41 pm

camprn wrote:This is actually how I pick up most of the leaves in my yard. The yard with an over abundance of shade trees.

I got a bagger for my mower at the end of the season last year and I am looking forward to collecting my leaves that way this fall as well.

GG

jtuck2 Thu Aug 25, 2011 1:31 pm

[quote="camprn]
This is actually how I pick up most of the leaves in my yard. The yard with an over abundance of shade trees. Shocked

[/quote]

On overabundance of shade trees!!! We're in a desert area that pretends not to be, and we have one shade tree. My husband makes the gardeners trim it every year and thin it out so it looks half of its fullness so it won't block the view. How I miss my shade trees!!! Need a garden shredder/grinder 889526

capatl Sat Sep 24, 2011 10:16 pm

I'll add another odd (probably far fetched) question, if I may?

At our school garden, due to time and attention spans, I had the kids just throw the whole plants in our compost bin (plastic, about the size of a shorter and wider trash can). Now I can't even get the turner/shovel thing out! Embarassed

We saved the corn stalks for fall decor. But was wondering if it would be possible to stick a weed eater/wacker into the bin?!?! :scratch:

**Kelejan** Sat Sep 24, 2011 10:22 pm

capatl wrote:
We saved the corn stalks for fall decor. But was wondering if it would be possible to stick a weed eater/wacker into the bin?!?! :scratch:

I reckon you could stick a weed whacker in the bin but I doubt it would work on corn stalks.

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