In article , Mike & Karen
writes
I have been looking at garden shredders. It looks like there are 2
types. The first (and cheapest) is a bit like a big food processor - a
drum containing a metal disk with a blade (or two) that cuts. The other
(generally a little more expensive) contains a chopper that is closer to
a cylinder mower blade, or a big cog - so it cuts and crushes.

Apart from the fact that the second type is quieter is one type better
than the other? I don't have much to shred - mainly softer stuff like
the tomato plant stalks and other veg stuff - not got many shrubs.

Currently I use my lawn mover (got the idea from Monty's book), but it
is not too happy with the thicker stuff.

Or should I just chop it in to reasonably small bits and hope it will
compost in a reasonable time?

Definitely!
It takes about as much time to shred as it does to cut the stuff down
the first time, so you're adding a significant job.
I don't grow tomatoes, but potato stalks rot down quite easily - no
point in cutting up. And I wouldn't cut tomato stalks either

Thin twigs from shrubs can be cut into 4-6 inches length, and finger
sized ones to shorter lengths. It won't matter if they are not
completely rotted when you come to use the compost, so what you're after
is not having sticks long enough to get in the way of digging the
compost out.

Btw - many people would not add tomato, potato etc to the heap for fear
of spreading disease - the same would of course go for shredding.



Mike

--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"