Best Garden Mulcher Chipper Shredder: Clean up Quick!

Mulching, chipping, and shredding garden waste can be a hassle, especially if you don’t really have any good quality tools for the job. If you want an electric garden mulcher to quickly and easily make confetti of your yard waste, then the Patriot CSV-2515 is the best choice for you. This beastly electric shredder will cut up to 2.5“ limbs and can eat leaves for breakfast. The dryer the leaves, the better, of course, but if your compost bin is getting low, the Patriot will fill it back up in a snap. There’s no question that this is the best garden mulcher available.

Unfortunately, it is, well, very expensive! The Patriot really is in another league compared to the competition and is covered under a 2-year warranty (3 years if you buy the power cord as well). If you will be using the mulcher frequently, this is the one for you. For more information on the Patriot CSV-2515, see our Product Reviews section below.

The SunJoe CJ602E is our runner-up pick and much more appropriately priced for those who want to do a little yard work to generate compost material. It is our favorite among the light-duty electric garden mulchers, though unquestionably inferior to the Patriot. The SunJoe can devour branches up to 1.5“ in diameter, and while it isn’t very useful at mulching leaves, it can do so in a pinch. Just make sure they’re dry. Ultimately if you want to shred leaves, it is easier, cheaper, and faster to just use your lawnmower. For work chipping brush on typical small to mid-sized yards, the SunJoe CJ602E is an excellent choice, especially given its price point, warranty, and the ease of acquiring more blades as needed.

For a complete review, see our Product Reviews section below.

Electric Garden Shredder Reviews

In this section, we will look at the pros and cons of five different electric garden shredders. These units have a wide variety of price and quality points, and we will compare and contrast them in order to find the best.

---

Greenworks 15 Amp Corded Shredder & Chipper 24052

Want to clean up your yard while also cleaning up the world environment? The Greenworks 15 amp corded shredder and chipper seeks to do just that! Designed and manufactured in a carbon neutral program (i.e. the end result of the manufacturing process means no CO2 was produced on net), the Greenworks 24052 mulches and chips your yard waste with ease. Capable of cutting up to 1 3/8“ branches, and all the twigs, branches, and yard waste you can imagine, this shredder works great! It’s built with quality in mind, as shown by the 4-year warranty Greenworks supplies.

Key Points at a Glance

• 15 am corded electric shredder
• Available with or without extension cord
• 4,000 RPM motor
• Cuts up to 1 3/8" debris
• Large 7" wheels make moving the shredder easy
• Includes push paddle for safety
• Comes with an extra set of blades
• 4 Year warranty
• CO2-free product!

Dimensions

Dimensions29" x 14" x 19"

Blade length2"

Cord length16"

Weight38.72lbs

The Greenworks 24052 15 amp corded shredder is perfect for those who want to chip and mulch yard waste to throw right into the compost bin. It is primarily designed for shredding small branches, and while it can work with dry leaves, it is not designed to work with green plant material at all. The 24052 will accommodate up to a 1 3/8“ branch, and that is a pretty hard limit. If there is a knot or section that goes over that 1 3/8“ threshold, it’s not going to go into the hopper. You’ll need to shave it down or otherwise remove it before proceeding. It is generally pretty easy to operate, and the design of the system pulls debris into the hopper without typically requiring much effort on the user’s part. Gravity and the blade-vortex pull material in, and the included push plate should give you the extra occasional oomph you need.

This mulcher/shredder is better for twigs and branches than it is for leaf disposal, though it will work on leaves if you want to spend the time adding them very slowly. The dryer the leaves, the better, and you certainly don’t want to try to shred wet leaves. If you add the leaves too fast, it will keep jamming up and you’ll have to keep cleaning it out. When dealing with branches with the leaves still attached, often the branches will get shredded, but leaves will go through without a full shredding. If the machine stops expelling material, you have a clog and you’ll need to clean it out. The default version includes a short leader cord, but you can choose to purchase a version that includes an extension cord designed to match the power output. You don’t have to worry about finding the right cord with the right heavy duty amperage and all that, which is helpful. The collection bag is not as high quality as the unit itself, and you may do better by just skipping it. It’s often easier to shred right onto a tarp, and then when you’re done, roll the shredder off, and wrap up the tarp for easy movement.

Assembly

Assembly of the Greenworks 24052 shredder is quite simple: just attach four bolts, and plug it in. Get the paddle and some yard waste, and start mulching!

---

Sun Joe CJ602E 15-Amp Electric Wood Chipper/Shredder

The SunJoe CJ602E is a high-quality electric wood chipper and shredder with a powerful 4,300 RPM motor, capable of tackling yard waste and branches up to 1.5“ thick! Available in three color options, this shredder mulcher is surprisingly easy to use and produces great mulch and compost material.

Key Points at a Glance

• 15 amp motor
• Shreds branches up to 1.5" thick
• 4,300 RPM motor
• 6" wheels for easy mobility
• Includes helpful safety features
• 108 dB sound output
• 2 Year warranty

Dimensions

Dimensions37.5" x 17" x 19"

Blade length1.5"

Weight26.2lbs

Sun Joe Wood Chipper Shredder Results

The SunJoe CJ602E garden shredder makes yard maintenance a breeze. With its solid design and quality construction, you can cut down on your yard waste by a factor of 17. You’ll practically make your money back in not having to buy so many Yard Waste bags! Like the Greenworks shredder chipper above, the SunJoe is really designed for shredding tree branches and twigs, as opposed to leaves and bark. The greener the leaves, the worse the SunJoe will shred, and in the end, you may find you spend more time unclogging it than you do actually shredding leaves. It’s generally best to just stick to the lawnmower when dealing with leaf shredding. The SunJoe CJ602E makes nice mulch and compostable material, with an end result of wood chips around 1/2“ in size.

All that being said, the CJ602E really does a nice job getting rid of your yard waste. The 1.5“ maximum diameter is a pretty strict line, and if you have curved branches that result in over that length, you may need to trim them. But for most smaller branches, the SunJoe will eat them up with ease. The narrower the branches, the better this chipper will work. There is an included pusher paddle that helps get the material into the hopper. It has an included strap, but the strap often gets tangled in the branches you’re trying to mulch. You may want to cut the strap if you find you’re using this mulcher a lot!

Replacement Blades

When you’re ready for new blades, you can find them here. As a note, the blades are double sided and can be sharpened, so you don’t need to be buying blades all the time if you’re familiar with sharpening.

Assembly

Like the Greenworks shredder above, the SunJoe is quite easy to assemble. You’ll need to put the wheels on, and secure a few bolts, but you’ll be up in running in under 10 minutes. The 6“ wheels make moving the SunJoe a snap. If you are looking to use it far from the electric outlet, you’ll need an extension cord. The manual stipulates that if you’re going up to 50’, you’ll need a 14 gauge cord. Up to 100’, you’ll need a 12 gauge cord.

---

PowerSmart PS10 15 Amp Electric Chipper Shredder

The PowerSmart PS10 is another fairly high-quality shredder chipper in the vein of the SunJoe and the Greenworks. These units are slightly more powerful than the competition, with a 1 5/8“ maximum branch diameter. Like the others, these work best when dealing with dry, sturdy plant material – branches that you can push into the machine if necessary.

Key Points at a Glance

• 15 amp electric shredder
• 4,500 RPM motor
• Cuts up to 1 5/8" debris
• 6" wheels for mobility
• 2 Year warranty

Dimensions

Dimensions37" x 18" x 14"

Weight33lbs

Want to turn your yard waste into confetti? Then head right over to the PS10! This electric shredder will quickly annihilate your small yard debris and will output small chips around 3/8“ in size. The PS10 will only shred non-pliable branches. Soft, pliable branches will gum up the interior motor mechanism and potentially void the warranty. Like many of the other chippers on our list, this shredder is not designed to work with green plant material. Make sure everything is nice and dry before you shred, and you’ll have a much easier time working with the PS10.

Replacement Blades

One of the big issues we have with the PowerSmart PS-10 is the inability to easily purchase replacement blades for the unit. They are not available on Amazon, Home Depot, or any of the usual spots, and to order replacement blades, PowerSmart suggests you call them at 800-791-9458. They are available from 9am-5pm EST, but that is hardly convenient!

Assembly

Like many of the other relatively inexpensive shredders on our list, the PowerSmart PS10 is a pretty easy garden tool to assemble. You’ll just need to attach the wheels and base frame, and you’re good to go. The wheels make maneuvering the PowerSmart pretty easy, even in bumpy yard conditions. If you plan on going far from the house with this shredder, keep in mind you’ll need a robust extension cord. For lengths of 50’ or less, go for a 14 gauge cord. Up to 100’, you’ll need a 12 gauge cord.

---

Eco-Shredder ES1600 14-Amp Electric Chipper / Shredder / Mulcher

The Eco-Shredder 14 amp electric chipper is another solid mulcher that does a little better job shredding leaves than many of the others on our list, but can only do branches up to 1 3/8“. Its specs are on the low end when it comes to power and capabilities, but it does a little bit better job balancing the branch and leaf issue than many of the other units on our list, due to the larger hopper design.

Key Points at a Glance

• 14 amp electric garden mulcher shredder
• 2,800 RPM motor
• Can cut branches up to 1 3/8" in diameter
• Extra blade included
• Easily moved, with 7" wheels
• 1 Year warranty

Dimensions

Hopper Dimensions15.3 x 10.4 inches

Side Chute Dimensions1.375 x 2.3 inches

Blade length2 1/4"

Weight70.8lbs

There are two ports in the Eco-Shredder: the top hopper for leaves and small yard debris, and the side chute hole for branches up to 1 3/8“ in diameter. With these two openings, you can get some pretty high-quality mulch, pretty quickly! Here’s a short video showcasing the Eco-Shredder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDS-Q0jPu2k The hopper on the Eco-Shredder is a little bigger than what is found on many of the other shredders on our list. Consequently, it’s a little easier to work with leaves using the Eco-Shredder than with many of the other ones we’re looking at today. However, it’s still not easy, and the hopper is still pretty small. You can do a small bucket of leaves at a time, as opposed to a handful at a time. The Eco-Shredder does not come with any catching bag or mechanism, so you’ll need to find something on your own. We find that the easiest method is to chip on top of a tarp, and then just wrap up the tarp when you’re done, but you can also use a bucket or bag as well. Throw everything into the compost tumbler, and you’re good to go!

Replacement Blades

We love that the unit comes with two blades pre-installed, and two replacement blades. You can purchase new blades as needed, but of course, they aren’t cheap. And you can always sharpen the blades as you use them.

---

Patriot Products CSV-2515 14 Amp Electric Wood Chipper/Leaf Shredder

The Patriot CSV-2515 is unquestionably by far the best shredder and chipper on our list today. It’s also positioned at a price that is likely out of the range of most home gardeners who want to occasionally shred some branches. The Patriot Products CSV-2515 is awesome, ultra-powerful, and expensive. If you want the very best electric shredder out there, this is it. Just be prepared to pay for it!

Key Points at a Glance

• 14 amp electric shredder/mulcher/chipper
• Capable of shredding branches up to 2 1/2" in diameter
• Large wheels make for ease of movement around the garden
• Two separate insertion points: a hopper and a chipper cone
• 2 Year Warranty

Dimensions

Dimensions24" W x 35" D x 37" H

Hopper Dimensions

Weight95lbs

If you are constantly working with brush and leaves, and are tired of dealing with the smaller electric shredders on our list, it may be time to jump up to the Patriot Products CSV-2515. It is a beast. Here’s a short video showing what it can do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viPsgeZI8JE Capable of shredding large branches up to 2.5“ in diameter, this shredder is almost as powerful as many gas-powered shredders, without having to deal with all of the extra maintenance and hassle of gas units. The main difference between the CSV-2515 and a gas powered shredder is the fact that it takes a little more time to shred than a gas powered unit does. But the power here is real, and this shredder will eat limbs up to 2.5“!

It is also a demon when it comes to leaves. The CSV-2515 will eat piles of leaves quickly and will chop them up quite capably, unlike the other mulchers on our list today. Also, while the Patriot will work best with dry leaves, it can handle at least some green leaves as well. Patriot recommends keeping the ratio at no more than 50% green leaves to dry leaves. But that is noticeably different than the other units on our list, which mostly don’t like green leaves at all. You just want to be patient with the hopper, and to let one load completely shred before adding more leaves to the mix, so that you avoid overloading the Patriot. However, if you do overload it and it clogs, you can try cleaning it out by using a water hose to put water through the machine, hopefully flushing it out without needing to take it apart. Another difference between The Patriot and the rest of the chippers on our list is how it processes branches. The Patriot does best when chipping fresh-cut branches, as these are a little softer than dry branches. The design of the CSV-2515 is such that users need to feed the stalk of the branch in first, and it must go into the chipping cone. Those bushy branches can be inserted into the chipping cone as well, or into the hopper for processing.

Assembly

Like all of the chippers on our list, some assembly is required with the Patriot CSV-2515. Assembly isn’t super extensive, and it mostly involves attaching the wheels, the frame, and the hopper and cone. It should be done in 30 minutes or so, using standard tools. In terms of power consumption, the CSV-2515 needs a dedicated 20 circuit, with no other tools or power draws on that circuit. For an extension cord, you should get the Patriot Brand 100’ 12 gauge cord. The reason you want the Patriot cord is that if you purchase that branded cord, you will get an extra 1 year of warranty on your shredder, which is a nice plus, especially if you need the cord anyway.

---

Conclusion: Best Garden Mulcher for Composting

After looking at several different garden mulchers on the market, there’s no question that the Patriot CSV-2515 electric shredder mulcher is the best. It surpasses all the competition in every way. However, it is priced far outside the range many homeowners will want to pay for a garden shredder. If you don’t need to go crazy shredding leaves, you’ll do well with the SunJoe CJ602E shredder as an alternate with a more appealing price. Use your mower to shred leaves and the SunJoe for branches, and you’ll get something similar to what you get from the Patriot.

---

Electric Garden Shredder Buyer’s Guide

In this section, we will cover some basic information useful to consider when shopping for an electric garden chipper.

Will these Chippers Produce Attractive Wood Chips?

These chippers don’t make wood chips like you would buy from your local nursery. They are typically smaller, stringier, and less attractive. They are great for mulching and composting, but they will not look as nice as the aged hemlock that you get from your local garden center.

Types of Wood/Wood Hardiness

Certain types of wood are significantly harder than others. For example, spruce, pine, fir, hemlock, etc. are softer woods than oak and maple. Oak branches will be significantly harder to shred than pine, just due to the nature of the wood. The harder the wood, the slower you should go, and ideally the dryer, the better.

Non-Yard Waste

Inserting non-yard waste into an electric shredder is generally not a good idea. It can be tempting to throw corn cobs, apples, etc. into the shredder for quick demolition, but these materials tend to have much more water content in them than leaves and brush and tend to gum up the works. Bamboo is also a questionable material to go into a garden shredder, though most of the shredders on our list can handle bamboo.

Shredding Paper and Other Products

Generally, these shredders don’t do a great job on paper or cardboard, so you’re best to stick with a traditional paper shredder, as tedious as that can be! These shredders like firm, sturdy material like branches to bite into. This is why they don’t do a great job with leaves, and paper is similar.

Dealing with Stones

Be sure you keep an eye out for stones, dirt, and other materials that really don’t belong in the shredder. Weed them out so that you can keep your blades as sharp as possible. Stone, dirt, mud, etc. will rapidly damage your blades, and you’ll have to keep opening the hopper to remove them.

Motor Power

Generally, the more powerful the motor, the stronger the shredding capabilities. Typically a 15 amp shredder is going to be more powerful than a 12 amp shredder. However, the Patriot CSV-2515 is only 14 amp but is the most powerful of all due to different motor design.

Safety

All of these units involve inserting objects into rapidly spinning blades, so safety is always a concern. Wear safety goggles when working with these chippers, and gloves as well. Be aware of where your limbs are when working with these shredders, and use the safety paddle as much as possible. These shredders are all much safer to use than larger commercial shredders, but users should still be careful.

---