Garden shredders: How to buy a garden shredder Getting a garden shredder
When renovating a garden as a one-off job, consider hiring a more powerful petrol shredder to speed up the shredding. For most gardens, an electric shredder used two or three times a year will deal with material left by annual shrub and border pruning or hedge cutting.
Garden shredder hire
Weekend hire costs for an electric garden shredder are about £30, but petrol ones cost £60-£70. Make sure you also get the relevant safety kit; with petrol models, ear-defenders need to be worn, as well as goggles and gloves. When using any electric power tool in the garden, make sure the socket has RCD protection. Lastly, check your vehicle is large enough to transport the machine.
Buying a garden shredder
You might see a few models demonstrated at garden shows, but only Which? Gardening puts a range of domestic garden-shredder brands and models through comparative shredding tests, and has compared them all for ease of use. Find out our latest test results so you can get the right model for your needs.
When you come to buy a garden shredder, superstores such as B&Q, Homebase and Argos will have some, including some exclusive models. But it's also a good idea to compare the prices and ranges offered by online suppliers, such as Amazon, as well as garden machinery specialists.
- Take a look at our best buy garden shredders
- Read our guide to choosing a garden shredder
- Subscribe to Which? Gardening magazine