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Soil, Compost & Mulch

best way to shred leaves without a machine

sandra_christie

16 years ago

Has anyone figured out a way to shred leaves manually without using any type of machine, ie. lawn mower, trimmer, etc. Care to share?

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Comments (8)

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
16 years ago
I saw one post where leaves were piled in windrows on the driveway and the car's comings and goings broke them up. Technically, that's a machine of course, but since the car was going to be there anyway...

tj
dorisl
16 years ago
Let them dry and let the kids play in it. Doesnt work if they're wet tho.
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I'm one of those negatives for the Flowtron. I think we worked it too hard with not enough stops in between. It was super-dusty, loud and then there's the stick issue. It could take hours just to shred leaves. My husband hated that thing. Rejoiced the day it died (which was in its 2nd season of use -- we didn't get our money's worth). Next, we tried the mower -- which works well if you've got a bag and a spare. It's best as a 2-person job: One person to mow the leaves, another to rake the rest of the pile into the mower's path so some leaves aren't just pushed out by the air. We go over them once. On the way is a B&D Leaf Hog recommended by a gardening columnist, it's now practically impossible to find around here after the column. Really excited now to hear about it from some of you! Here is a link that might be useful: More on the Leaf Hog
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duluthinbloomz4
16 years ago
I'm with you since I don't have the usual mechanical means to break them up. For the most part, my leaves go into the compost pile whole. But I save out a few bags in the garage - in a relatively short time they get very dry and crispy; I just open the bag and do a one foot stomp. It works - the leaves aren't minced, but they do crumble pretty well.
molanic
16 years ago
If you want a really good workout you can so what I did the other day. The leaves were really dry and crispy, otherwise it wouldn't have worked. First I raked them into one of those large bags made out of tarp material (best $2.50 I ever spent). I jumped inside and danced around on them until they were pulverized, then added more and repeated about 5 times. When it got really full I just swung one leg over into the bag and stomped on them balancing myself with the rake. It seemed like a good idea at the time but I had to take some aspirin later because my abs were burning. I think the neighbors got some entertainment though. They probably thought I was even crazier after they saw me dump the crushed leaves back onto my flower beds.

The next day I tried using the bagger on the mower just to use up the gas in it before winter. It was a little faster but it sure kicked up a lot of dust. I should have worn a dust mask and goggles, which would only make me look slightly more odd to the neighborhood:)

I won't be doing any more shredding this year though. It has been raining on and off for 2 days and our two large maples have yet to drop the majority of their leaves. They are always the last on the street to drop.
dorisl
16 years ago
Where did you get the tarp bag? I want one to put in my trunk next year, I made a mess of my car with the leaves.

I saw some on the internet for 90 bucks, NO WAY!

2.50 sounds better!
maryann_____chgo
16 years ago
Menard's had the bags on purchase price rebate a few years ago. Mine cost me zero. Try there or HD.
dorisl
16 years ago
Thanks!
sandra_christie
Original Author
16 years ago
Molanic,
That's a hoot. I am beginning to see how composting makes you look like a lunatic to "outsiders" Yesterday, I forced my 2 year old to haul a bag of leaves down the street from the neighbors, while I hauled two others and pushed my baby in the stroller. All the while she's complaining and I'm bribing her onward towards our house.
Thanks for all the suggestions, I love composting!

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