Baz
There is a long thread on this (starting 4th May) - sorry I haven't figured
out how to copy a link. Have a look and see if it helps.

I bought the Bosch silent 2000 and it is very good, although as you say it
really struggled with thicker hard wood. To repeat the earlier posting -
although quoted at 35mm, it would not go through a 25-30mm branch which had
been dead for some time and had a few knots in (i.e. dry and very hard). I
think when they quote maximum size they assume green (soft) wood.

Other things I have learnt about shredding & composting - the shredder is
only really any good at fairly rigid / woody material. Anything that is
mainly green and too 'floppy' the screw blade does not grip and drag in so
you end up having to dig it all out again. Other non-screw types might be
better at floppy stuff but I have no experience.

I find that I still need to chop up floppy green stuff since it can often be
a pain when it partially rots but leaves lots of long stringy bits which
bind the compost together making it difficult to handle.

So I have learnt to put stiff / woody stuff through the shredder and for
other floppy green stuff I now put in a heap on the lawn and mow it up!
The lawnmower is very quick and efficient at chopping up the softer stuff -
ideal for more managable composting


The bit about silent versus non-silent I took the advice to go for silent
and glad I did. I find the shredder is turned on for quite long periods and
I'm sure the neighbours would not appreciate a 110dB model!

Pete


"Barry Watts" wrote in message
...
With many shrubs to prune around this time I am considering buying a
garden
shredder. Does anyone own one they can recommend, or NOT recommend? Any
hints or tips? (I note a previous posting advising not to attempt
shredding
Phormium - thanks for the tip!). Budget is around £150-£200. I am
particularly suspicious of the 30-35-40mm figures they give for acceptable
thickness. I mean a thick softwood cutting from my Forsythia is a
different
ballgame from a thick pruning from my Ceanothus. Chalk and (soft) cheese,
I'd say. Would be interested in any views. UK-based, by the way.
Baz