Once the gardening work is finished, it’s time to get rid of the waste. Instead of burning it, you have another alternative: reducing its size with a shredder. This strategy, in addition to being practical, is very advantageous since you can reuse these residues once they are shredded.
The principles of using a garden shredder
First of all, it is important to clarify here the principles of the device for shredding plant materials. This process involves chopping up residues such as leaves, young shrubs, or trimmed hedge clippings. This operation is carried out using a shredder designed for this purpose. The principle of use is very simple. You just need to feed the waste from your work into it.
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Speaking of operation, also avoid introducing inappropriate materials such as paper, plastic, or PVC. Be careful not to include small stones or gravel in the materials to be shredded, as these could damage your machine. Once the shredding of the residues is complete, the volume will have been reduced by half at most.
That said, the shredder you should use entirely depends on the nature and characteristics of these waste materials. To give you a brief overview on the subject, a thermal model is more suitable for shredding branches with a diameter of up to 5 cm. On the other hand, the electric model is appropriate for shredding leaves and small branches (with a diameter of 3 cm).
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What are shredded plant materials used for?
Although they are waste, the residues prove to be useful once shredded. Thus, you can use them for many purposes. Here are a few.
Shredded plant materials in compost composition
Once you have shredded the waste, you can use it by adding it to your compost mix. This would not have been possible if the waste had not been shredded. Indeed, the tough parts of the plants will take much longer to decompose. It can be said that shredding accelerates and smooths the process. Thus, dead leaves, twigs, and other waste will blend more easily into the compost pile without causing you any trouble. Therefore, you no longer need to burn them or take them to the dump to dispose of them. Besides compost, the residues can also be used for mulching.
Shredded plant materials for mulching
Since they are rich in fertilizing elements, you can use these chips by spreading them as mulch in your garden. Over time, they will gradually return the nutrients contained in these waste materials to the base of the plants to better fertilize them. In winter, you can use this mulch to better protect the bases of your fruit trees. Consequently, it also helps reduce water evaporation during hot periods. When spread in a thick layer, they help reduce the growth of unwanted plants and, by extension, the use of chemical products.