Picture: Mark Wolfe
Few sights are as pretty because the purple and gold hues of falling leaves, however when you should rake them and bag them—usually a number of occasions in a season—they will lose their attraction. Nonetheless, for those who don’t take away dried leaves out of your yard, they will turn out to be a soggy mess that will increase the chance of garden illness. Shredding leaves in a leaf mulcher considerably reduces their bulk and, higher nonetheless, creates natural mulch you should utilize round perennial vegetation.
One of the best leaf mulcher for you’ll rely on how a lot leaf accumulation you get, the scale of your yard, and the way you favor to gather the leaves. We examined quite a lot of leaf mulchers to learn the way they carry out general and which of them supply one of the best worth in several classes. Learn on to study what to search for when searching for a leaf mulcher, and take a look at product critiques primarily based on our hands-on checks. You’re prone to discover one of the best leaf mulcher on your must make quick work of tidying up the yard.
- BEST OVERALL: WORX WG430 13 Amp Bladeless Electrical Leaf
- RUNNER UP: BLACK+DECKER (BV6600) 3-in-1 Electrical Leaf Mulcher
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Solar Joe SBJ606E-GA-SJB 4-in-1 Electrical Mulcher
- UPGRADE PICK: WORX WG512 12 amp TriVac
- BEST 3-IN-1 COMBO: Toro 51609 Extremely Electrical Blower with Metallic Impeller
- BEST CORDLESS: Greenworks 40V Cordless Blower/Vacuum
- ALSO CONSIDER: Flowtron LE-900 Electrical Leaf Shredder
Picture: Mark Wolfe
How We Examined the Finest Leaf Mulchers
We spent 2 days in a mean suburban yard turning fallen leaves into mulch. Every mulcher needed to run the gamut of huge and small, dry and moist leaves, together with no matter small twigs, pine cones, and acorns occurred to search out their method into the combo. Observe: Whereas our testing included the Solar Joe CJ601E Electrical Wooden Chipper, we discovered that its slim hopper and flywheel chopper are designed for grinding up sticks, not for shredding leaves.
The primary testing day was underneath regular circumstances, with leaves that have been dry or solely barely damp and not too long ago blown right into a pile. With the hand held vacuum/mulchers we held the suction tube at or barely above the extent of the leaves, as they need to be used in accordance with the producers’ directions. The stand-alone fashions have been merely turned on and fed by the armload.
On the second day, we tried to place the mulchers via extra disturbing circumstances, together with moist, matted leaves and enormous, leathery magnolia leaves. Throughout this take a look at, we additionally pushed the suction tubes farther into the leaf piles to see if they’d turn out to be clogged or just cease. To emphasize the stand-alones, we used giant baskets to “force-feed” extra-large portions.
Ultimately, the entire fashions that made our checklist handed each checks. In common testing, every mulcher shredded with out hesitation, filling its bag. Within the disturbing testing, a number of clogs occurred, however none have been catastrophic, nor did they take greater than slightly thump on the aspect of the suction housing to clear. In all, this group labored as anticipated or higher.
Our High Picks
One of the best leaf mulcher on your functions will rely on the scale of your yard, the quantity of leaf accumulation, and the way you prefer to method yard cleanup. We put a number of machines to the take a look at in a mean yard to find out real-life efficiency. To qualify as a prime decide, the next leaf mulchers proved to be reliable, dependable, and efficient at shredding dry leaves. Observe: Whereas our testing included the Solar Joe CJ601E Electrical Wooden Chipper, we discovered that its slim hopper and flywheel chopper are designed for grinding up sticks, not for shredding leaves. Right here’s how a number of the greatest leaf mulchers available on the market fared after we put them via their paces.
Picture: amazon.com
This electrical leaf mulcher from WORX is designed with the only real function of shredding leaves, which it does rapidly and effectively. The upright mannequin operates through a heavy-duty 12- to 14-gauge extension wire, and its rugged 13-amp motor supplies an 11:1 mulch discount ratio.
The cylindrical, molded plastic unit sits atop robust metal legs (minor meeting required). Relatively than metallic or plastic blades, this leaf mulcher makes use of the identical kind of plastic line present in string trimmers. It options a big consumption hopper and might shred as much as 53 gallons of leaves per minute.
The WORX WG430 shreds a lot quicker than any blower/vac-type leaf mulcher we examined. We simply dropped leaves into the hopper by the armload (or basket full) they usually have been gone earlier than we may decide up the subsequent load, permitting us to fill a 30-gallon trash bag with shredded leaves in lower than 5 minutes. The trimmer strains on the cutter shredded sufficient to fill 5 baggage earlier than they wanted alternative, a activity that took underneath 2 minutes. When you have plenty of leaves to shred, this is able to be a superb device for the job.
Product Specs
- Sort: Stand-alone
- Energy supply: 13 amp plug-in electrical
- Mulching ratio: 11:1
Professionals
- Simple setup and takedown
- Shreds straight into disposable leaf bag
- Shreds a lot quicker than vacuum varieties
Cons
- Single-task device
- In storage many of the 12 months
- Leaves have to be lifted to feed the hopper
Get the WORX leaf mulcher on Amazon, The House Depot, and Lowe’s.
Picture: amazon.com
Blow-dry leaves right into a pile after which vacuum them up and shred them with this three-in-one electrical leaf blower from Black+Decker. This handheld machine weighs in at 8.1 kilos, and it features a removable shoulder strap, reusable bag meeting, and three disposable baggage. The unit includes a blowing pace of 400 cfm, metallic impeller blades, and adjustable pace management. It produces a 16:1 discount ratio, leading to finely shredded leaves that may be added to vegetation or the compost bin. A heavy-duty 12- to 14-gauge exterior extension wire is required to function this versatile device.
We favored the comfort of getting a blower, vacuum, and mulcher in a single. Altering from blower to hoover was straightforward and took a couple of minute: utilizing a flathead screwdriver, take away the blower tube and air consumption cowl, and fasten the vacuum tube and leaf assortment bag. This device carried out properly in each modes, with ample energy and minimal clogging in vacuum mode.
Product Specs
- Sort: Handheld
- Energy supply: 12 amp plug-in electrical
- Mulching ratio: 16:1
Professionals
- Performs a number of duties
- Positive mulching ratio
- Compact dimension for maneuverability and storage
Cons
- Should reconfigure the tubes to modify modes
- Considerably cumbersome bagger
- Should switch particles from assortment bag to a disposal bag
Get the BLACK&DECKER leaf mulcher on Amazon and at Goal.
Picture: amazon.com
There’s no purpose to lay our a fortune on an efficient leaf mulcher. The properly priced Solar Joe 4-in-1 electrical mulcher includes a highly effective 14-amp motor that strikes air at a formidable 440 cfm and reduces leaf waste by a 16:1 discount ratio. Not solely does it function a blower, a vacuum, and a leaf mulcher, however this corded machine additionally consists of an extendable U-nozzle gutter-cleaning equipment to hoover leaves out of home gutters with out climbing a tall ladder.
The 8.6-pound unit makes use of aluminum alloy impeller blades and boasts a number of distinctive design components. Although a handheld mannequin, it consists of an interchangeable vacuum tube with connected wheels in order that it may be rolled alongside the bottom somewhat than carried, if desired. Plus, the gathering bag clips to the suction tube for added assist. These options take away some pressure for average-size staff, however customers taller than 6 toes could have problem adjusting the shoulder strap to see any profit. Whereas we discovered that this device provided ample energy to work rapidly, even with giant or moist leaves, it was a lot louder than the opposite three-in-one instruments we examined.
Product Specs
- Sort: Handheld
- Energy supply: 14 amp plug-in electrical
- Mulching ratio: 16:1
Professionals
- Multitask device
- Highly effective air motion
- 15-foot rain gutter cleansing device
Cons
- Louder than most opponents
- Particles have to be transferred for disposal
- Numerous elements to maintain organized
Get the Solar Joe leaf mulcher on Amazon and at The House Depot.
Picture: amazon.com
The WG512 is far improved over the earlier TriVac incarnation. It makes use of a single tube for each blower and vacuum modes, with an easy-to-use dial to modify modes. The 12-amp corded electrical motor makes use of an upgraded metallic impeller fan to grind leaves and particles at a mulching price of 16:1. It weighs in at 9 kilos and strikes air at a price of as much as 600 cfm.
In our trial, the WG512 confirmed a great stability of energy and comparatively quiet operation, with a noise working stage listed at 79 decibels. It simply pushed moist and dry leaves across the yard, then rapidly dispatched them in vacuum/mulcher mode. After we pressured the difficulty by shoving the vacuum tube deep right into a leaf pile, the tube clogged briefly however righted itself as quickly as we pulled it again out of the pile. The one-tube design, easy mode change dial, and better-than-average air dealing with capability made this mannequin stand out. As a handheld corded electrical mannequin, it appears greatest for small to midsize yards with reasonable to heavy leaf cowl.
Product Specs
- Sort: Handheld
- Energy supply: 12 amp plug-in electrical
- Mulching ratio: 16:1
Professionals
- Simple to make use of
- Stress-free ergonomic design
- Change modes by turning a dial
Cons
- Struggles with extra-large leaves
- Restricted by extension wire size
- Suction tube could also be too quick for some customers
Get the WORX leaf mulcher at Amazon, WORX, The House Depot, Lowe’s, and Walmart.
Picture: amazon.com
Electrical three-in-one leaf mulchers are fashionable as a result of they’re really easy to make use of, and this Toro mannequin was the breeziest of the bunch we examined, largely due to the toolless switching from blower to hoover. The machine generates as much as 390 cfm of blowing drive to maneuver leaves, small twigs, and different particles from round HVAC models, decks, and fences. We discovered that to be loads of energy to collect the entire leaves right into a pile after which to suck them up into the metallic impeller shredder. The one materials that slowed it down was coarse, moist, matted leaves.
The mulcher weighs simply 7.5 kilos, making it straightforward to hold. It additionally features a reusable assortment bag and two extra tube attachments to pay attention air energy. The impeller options magnesium-serrated metallic blades that resist rust and corrosion. It shreds leaves at a 16:1 discount ratio, a small dimension certain to rapidly decompose in a compost pile that additionally fits layering round vegetation to scale back weeds and retain soil moisture.
Product Specs
- Sort: Handheld
- Energy supply: 12 amp plug-in electrical
- Mulching ratio: 16:1
Professionals
- Toolless change between modes
- Light-weight
- Good mulching ratio
Cons
- Barely underpowered for big or moist leaves
- Mobility restricted by wire size
- Should reconfigure tubes to vary modes
Get the Toro leaf mulcher at Amazon, Ace {Hardware}, The House Depot, and Walmart.
Picture: amazon.com
Put the ability of lithium-ion vitality to work with the Greenworks cordless leaf mulcher. This battery-operated mulcher features a high-performance G-MAX 40-volt lithium-ion battery that produces as much as 340 cfm of blowing energy and runs as much as 21 minutes on the best mode. It presents six pace changes and each a slim blowing tube and a wider-angle vacuum tube for versatile yard cleanup. The mulcher weighs 9.92 kilos, includes a 10:1 discount ratio and aluminum alloy impeller blades, and features a reusable mulch assortment bag.
We needed to see if this cordless device had satisfactory energy to gather and shred leaves with out altering batteries or working out of cost. After utilizing it in blower mode to gather a pile of leaves, we switched to hoover mode and proceeded to fill the gathering twice, plus one other partial bag. Altogether, it labored for greater than 20 minutes on the best energy setting.
Product Specs
- Sort: Handheld
- Energy supply: 40V lithium rechargeable battery
- Mulching ratio: 10:1
Professionals
- Good runtime per cost
- Freedom of cordless energy
- Multitasker with a shared battery system
Cons
- Considerably underpowered
- Heavier than corded varieties
- Decrease mulching ratio
Get the Greenworks leaf mulcher on Amazon and at Greenworks.
Picture: amazon.com
For yards with plenty of leaves, an electrical stand-alone leaf mulcher is usually one of the best wager, and this Flowtron mannequin is a worthy contender. Its 5.9-amp motor will run all day, with just some stops alongside the way in which to put in new trimmer strains. It grinds up dry leaves at a price of as much as 55 gallons per minute. Select from tremendous, medium, and coarse mulching settings, primarily based on materials. Positive is nice for dry, skinny materials like pine needles and dry leaves, whereas coarse is healthier suited to moist matted leaves and grass clippings. An onboard security shutoff kills the engine if it overheats.
This stand-alone mannequin nearly made the reduce as our greatest general decide since by way of efficiency it’s a viable choice. The difficulty was, the setup proved to be far much less user-friendly. The plastic hopper arrived in two halves requiring meeting by aligning tabs and putting in 4 screws. Assembling the 2 halves of the metallic stand requires two screws, two brackets, and two wingnuts. Although this wasn’t tough, these engineering decisions made the method extra clunky and complex than it needed to be. In motion, we favored the decrease working peak however discovered it essential to make use of trash baggage as an alternative of paper garden and leaf baggage for assortment as a result of the bottom is so low to the bottom.
Product Specs
- Sort: Stand-alone
- Energy supply: 5.9 amp plug-in electrical
- Mulching ratio: as much as 30:1
Professionals
- Good working peak
- Skill to regulate the angle of the hopper
- Mulches straight into baggage
Cons
- Meeting unnecessarily clumsy
- Motor is a bit undersized
- Base too low for normal garden baggage
Get the Flowtron leaf mulcher at Amazon, Walmart, and The House Depot.
Recap of Suggestions
- BEST OVERALL: WORX WG430 13 Amp Bladeless Electrical Leaf
- RUNNER UP: BLACK+DECKER (BV6600) 3-in-1 Electrical Leaf Mulcher
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Solar Joe SBJ606E-GA-SJB 4-in-1 Electrical Mulcher
- UPGRADE PICK: WORX WG512 12 amp TriVac
- BEST 3-IN-1 COMBO: Toro 51609 Extremely Electrical Blower with Metallic Impeller
- BEST CORDLESS: Greenworks 40V Cordless Blower/Vacuum
- ALSO CONSIDER: Flowtron LE-900 Electrical Leaf Shredder
Varieties of Leaf Mulchers
Leaf mulchers are all designed with one main activity: shredding leaves, sometimes with spinning impeller blades. But sure options are value contemplating when selecting the kind of mulcher that fits you greatest. Leaf mulchers supply quite a lot of energy choices, equivalent to {an electrical} wire, a fuel engine, or a chargeable battery. As well as, whereas many leaf mulchers are handheld, some are stationary. As with all energy instruments, learn and comply with the producer’s security precautions, and don’t function a leaf mulcher when young children are close by.
Corded Electrical
Corded leaf mulchers, which fall into the electrical leaf blower class, function motors rated in amps that vary from round 8 amps to 14 amps, and the upper the amps, the extra highly effective the motor. Corded fashions are quieter than gas-powered fashions, and there’s no gas to combine or flammable fuel to retailer. With a corded leaf mulcher, you needn’t fear about charging a battery, however you may be restricted to the size of an extension wire, which often tops out at round 100 toes. A handheld corded mulcher weighs about 6 to 9 kilos, so it’s straightforward to make use of with out growing shoulder or arm fatigue.
Gasoline
With gas-powered leaf mulchers, you’ll have ample energy at your fingertips, with no danger of tripping over an extension wire and no battery to cost. The engine of a fuel leaf mulcher is rated by its dimension in cubic centimeters (cc), and the bigger the quantity, the extra highly effective the engine. An engine can also be rated by the kind of gas it requires: A 2-cycle fuel engine requires mixing gasoline with engine oil at a ratio decided by the producer, whereas a 4-cycle fuel engine runs on pure gasoline solely. Whereas a fuel leaf mulcher is moveable as a result of it isn’t tethered to a wire, at between 10 and 17 kilos, it’ll weigh fairly a bit greater than any corded or cordless mannequin. One other draw back to fuel fashions is the fumes they emit.
Cordless
Like corded mulchers, battery-operated cordless leaf mulchers received’t require you to combine gas or expose your self to poisonous fumes. Cordless leaf mulchers are finally moveable since they’re pretty light-weight and aren’t restricted by the size of a wire; nevertheless, the common lithium battery runtime is between about 15 and 35 minutes, relying on the voltage. These rechargeable batteries common 20 to 40 volts, and the upper the voltage, the longer the runtime. Shopping for a second battery and protecting it charged will can help you use your cordless mulcher longer.
Handheld vs. Stand-Alone
Nearly all of leaf mulchers are handheld fashions that vacuum up leaves, then cross them via spinning impeller blades for shredding. Many handheld fashions additionally function leaf-blowing functionality to blow leaves into piles for simpler vacuum assortment.
Nonetheless, some people choose the convenience of use of a stand-alone mannequin. These leaf mulchers could be positioned in a central spot within the yard and the person dumps dried leaves right into a prime consumption chute—referred to as a hopper—for shredding. A group bag attaches to a discharge chute on the backside of the hopper.
What to Contemplate When Selecting the Finest Leaf Mulcher
Now that you just perceive the kinds of leaf mulchers accessible, take into account ease of operation, effectivity, and efficiency. These components are depending on the next:
Blades
Most leaf mulchers have metallic blades that spin at fast speeds to cut and shred leaves into tiny bits, however some fashions use heavy-duty plastic blades and even string-trimming line. All three choices can shred leaves, however metallic blades are sometimes extra sturdy.
Mulching Ratio
The mulching ratio, often known as the discount ratio, signifies how a lot the device will cut back the leaves’ general dimension. For instance, a mulching ratio of 10:1 signifies the mulcher will cut back 10 baggage of dried leaves to shreds that may slot in a single bag. Typical mulching ratios vary from 8:1 to 18:1, with the best ratios producing the smallest shreds. In case you’re into composting, small shreds will decompose extra rapidly in a compost pile.
Capability
Leaf mulcher capability pertains to the quantity of air the machine strikes in cubic toes per minute (cfm). Most corded and cordless leaf mulchers vary from round 175 to 500 cfm, with the highest-capacity fashions designed for heavy-duty leaf clearing. Gasoline leaf mulchers, that are extra highly effective, are inclined to have larger capacities, within the vary of 450 to 700 cfm.
Capabilities
Stand-alone leaf mulchers have a single perform—they shred leaves dropped into their hoppers. Handheld fashions usually do extra, together with blowing leaves right into a pile after which vacuuming them up for shredding. Whereas a couple of handheld leaf mulchers vacuum however don’t blow, fashions with three features function as leaf blowers and leaf vacuums.
Ease of Use
Each corded and cordless leaf mulchers are simpler to make use of than fuel fashions as a result of they don’t require mixing gas, including engine oil, servicing a carburetor, or utilizing a hand recoil to begin the engine. Nonetheless, followers of fuel fashions could take into account the higher energy derived from a gas-powered leaf mulcher to be value the additional effort.
Noise
All energy instruments, together with leaf mulchers, make some noise, however cordless and corded fashions are pretty quiet, at roughly 60 to 63 decibels—akin to the sound of conversational speech. Gasoline-powered leaf mulchers are fairly a bit louder at round 85 to 90 decibels or akin to the sound of busy road site visitors from the curb. Test your metropolis ordinances, and for those who stay in a group the place loud noises are discouraged or prohibited, you might need to select an electrical leaf mulcher.
FAQs
A leaf mulcher can simplify yard cleanup, but when that is your first time searching for one, you may want some extra data. Try the solutions to a number of the most continuously requested questions on leaf mulchers.
Q. What’s the distinction between a mulcher and a chipper?
Whereas each objects will produce small bits of biodegradable materials to be used as mulch round vegetation or for including to a compost pile, a leaf mulcher handles solely leaves and tiny twigs, whereas a wooden chipper can shred small tree branches.
Q. What can you set in a mulcher?
A leaf mulcher is barely supposed for dry leaves. Keep away from sucking up acorns and twigs bigger than ⅛ inch in diameter, and don’t mulch inexperienced leaves or grass clippings. Inexperienced plant matter can clog the blades of a leaf mulcher.
Q. What are the advantages of mulching?
Spreading a layer of shredded leaves across the base of vegetation helps cut back weed progress, improves soil content material, and retains moisture within the soil.
Q. What are the disadvantages of mulching?
There are not any disadvantages to mulching. It reduces leaf waste, and the mulch can profit vegetation and soil.
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