7 Best Leaf Mulchers Reviews & Buying Guidelines

Last Updated on May 8, 2022 by Gary Stephen

Don’t you find that cleaning your backyard or your garden can be difficult and tedious? Ugh! This is especially true if you plan to do the cleaning all by yourself. Fallen leaves or excess wood can be problematic and makes your garden look untidy. It’s lucky we live in the 21st century, where technology can help us with whatever we need, including your yard cleaning duties – the leaf mulcher!

Leaf mulchers are already available and make our task of cleaning our garden easier and quicker. A Leaf Mulcher or Leaf Shredder converts our problematic piles of leaves and woods into useful mulches. These mulches can be then converted into compost for enriching your garden soil.  Now doesn’t that sound great!

Vacuum leaf mulchers have a special blade inside that operates as both a vacuum and a shredder. You can add the collection bag to the back and operate it in the same way you would operate a leaf blower – easy as pie! This will actually vacuum up the leaves rather than move them around. They are usually a little weaker than the standalone mulchers. They are more convenient to use though as they do both the collection and the shredding in a go.

Best Leaf Mulchers

We have compiled a list of seven leaf mulchers that are usually preferred by gardeners, and that definitely gets out stamp of approval.

1. WORX WG430 13 Amp Foldable Bladeless Electric Leaf Mulcher

WORX WG430 can mulch up to 53 gallons of leaves per minute. This is done with the safe flex-a-line bladeless mulching system. It offers the added benefit of tool-less cutting line replacement. Its 13 Amp motor generates 8,500 RPM. This will make collecting leaves easier, quicker and leave your yard much tidier. This mulcher has a large feed hole that you can drop those leaves, and it can mulch to 1/11th their size.

Furthermore, the WORX Leaf Mulcher features a compact design. The disassembled parts nest together for convenient off-season storage on your shelf. Plus, Setup takes only a few minutes, with no extra tools required. The design incorporates a dust reducing clean air motor cooling system. Also, it has an oversized on and off switch for ease of use.

Why We Like It

Compact for storage

Easy to clean

Powerful shredder

Power Source: Electric

Dimensions: 22.6 x 22.6 x 13.2 Inches

Weight 24.3 lbs

 

2. Black+Decker BV5600

leaf mulcher

The BV5600 is capable of blowing loads of leaves and other debris, making your job of cleaning much easier. Its speed can reach up to 250 miles per hour. This motor can be also used as mulcher and a vacuum, making it perfect for a variety of tasks. The BV5600 features a metal fan high-impact which prevents clogging. When you use this tool as a mulcher for flower beds, you can switch on its speed selection to get the job done faster. 

This model is about half as loud as the others, so we’re sure your neighbor would prefer it too. You don’t need to worry about getting noise complaints from them when using it. This makes it easy for you to change between blower vacuum in seconds, thanks to its tool-free changing operation. Black & Decker is a very trusted household brand for a variety of DIY and gardening tools. So, you can always be sure this is a high-quality product. We sure like it!

Why We Like It

This is a 3 in 1 blower, vacuum and mulcher all in one

250 mph blower with 2 Speed selections

Grinding up to 16 bags of leaves into one mulch

Power Source: Electric

Dimensions: 15.6 x 20.8 x 9.9 Inches

Weight: 12.9 lbs

 

3. YARD FORCE   YF8000 YardForce Electric Leaf Mulcher/Shredder 

The Yard Force YF8000 leaf shredder is the perfect solution to clean all piles of leaves around your yard. It is built with a powerful, corded electric 13 Amp 8000 RPM motor that is sure to shred whole leaves quicker. It can shred twelve full bag of leaves in one shredding. The final product of the shredded leaves and debris is vitamin-rich, organic mulch, perfect for using as  fertilizer in your garden. 

Yard Force YF8000 also has adjustable telescopic legs. This helps balance and stability on uneven ground. It is also designed to be compact for storage purposes and can be used in tight spaces. Furthermore, each shredder is ultra-mobile with a lightweight design to move about. This leaf shredder is a complete kit ready to be used immediately out of the box, for your convenience. 

Why We Like It

Easy to use

Complete Set – Ready for Use!

2 Year Warranty

Power Source Electric 

Dimension: 22 x 22 x 13 in.

Weight 13.45 lbs.

 

4. Sun Joe SDJ616 13-Amp 16:1 Reduction Electric Leaf Mulcher/Shredder

leaf mulcher

This electric leaf mulcher turns heaps of dead leaves into nutrient-rich mulch. This can then be disposed of or utilized as compost. Shredder Jo mulches up to 55 gallons of leaves per minute – amazing! Shredder Joe uses electric power, not gas. This is so you can eco-consciously shred your leaves without producing toxic emissions.Now that’s what we like to hear! It also has a safety function that stops the motor from working when the hopper has been opened. This prevents accidents from occurring; safety first. 

This Sun Joe electric chipper shredder cannot be disassembled. But, it is very lightweight. It also has 6-inch wheels for convenient transportation around your property. It also has an advanced motor cooling system. This diverts the air from the shredded leaves to reduce the amount of dust generated during use.

Why We Like It

Lightweight and compact for easy portability and storage

16:1 Mulching ratio

Smart Shred Technology – this reduces dust with through its motor cooling system for cleaner air during operation

Power Source Electric

Dimension 30 x 30 x 48.5 inches

Weight 13.4 lbs

 

5. Flowtron LE-900 the Ultimate Mulcher Electric Leaf  Shredder

Flowtron LE-900 has a 21-inch-diameter funnel. This effortlessly reduces yard waste, including rain-soaked leaves and grass clippings. It creates nutrient-rich mulch or compost. You can reuse this right in your flower beds or vegetable garden. It has a two step process that shreds and then mulches for fast cleanup and most waste reduction. It also offers the convenience of a range of shredding adjustments from coarse to fine. This has adjustable pressure knobs. It allows the positioning of the hopper to any angle for easier loading. For compact storage, the hopper also rotates 180 degrees. The Flowtron LE-900 also features a convenient built-in storage compartment. This is to hold replacement cutting lines, gloves, and safety glasses.

Why We Like It

It has a lightweight Design and Built-In Carrying Handles for Easy Portability. Besides, this shredder has a range of Shredding Adjustments for Flexibility. It has 36 heavy-duty cutting lines, for fast shredding

Power Source Electric

Dimension: 23 x 19.5 x 19.5 inches

Weight: 17 lbs.

 

6. WORX WG505 3-in-1 Blower/Mulcher/Vacuum

The TRIVAC 3-in-1 leaf mulcher blows out 80-210 mph of airflow, with 350 CFM of air volume, at 15,000 rpm. That’s a lot of power that also switches into a vacuum to suck up a lot of leaves. The TRIVAC turns into a mulcher while you work. It employs its sturdy metal impeller to chop leaves down at a 16:1 ratio. That’s 16 bags of debris into one. As a blower, the TRIVAC produces airspeed of up to 210 mph, strong enough for the toughest wet leaves and debris. The high impact resistant impeller mulches leaves up to 1/10 of their original size. And the attachable collection  bag holds 1.2 bushels of those mulched leaves. It’s easy to clean, easy to assemble and operate, and easy to carry, even while operating.

Why We Like It 

Easy to use

Versatile in changing jobs with the flip of a switch

It’s easy to clean, easy to assemble and operate, and easy to carry, even while operating

Power Source Electric

Dimension 20 x 15 x 9 inches

Weight 11 lbs.

 

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

This Electric Chipper Shredder is the only one of its kind on the market today. This unit will chip branches up to 2 1/2 inches in diameter. It is also ideal for shredding leaves. There are no hassles with gas or oil. It (in a very nifty way) turns on with the flip of a switch. This shredder weighs less than 100 pounds. It comes with large wheels for easy transportation around your home and yard. The electric motor is quiet, so can be then used without wearing earplugs. It is also less likely to disturb your neighbors when you are using it, ensuring that everyone is happy.

The Patriot Chipper provides a safe and easy way to help clear your material from your wood chipper. The Patriot Gator Grabber makes easy work in piling leaves into the hopper. This can be then done without the need to bend over. The Patriot Jumbo Collection Bag holds twice the volume of standard-size collection bag. You can shred more leaves before you need to empty the bag.

Why We Like It 

Great heavy duty machine

Low noise levels

Award winning

Power Source Electric

Dimensions 35 x   24 x 37 inches

Weight 126 lbs

 

Benefits of Leaves Mulching

Shredded leaf mass furnishes nutrients, which is useful in new plant growth during the growing season. The mixing of mulch into your garden and flower beds will aerate the soil and produces new growth. The leaf mulch will increase water retention in the soil. This will reduce watering time and save you money. Disposing of the leaves means there will be fewer air spaces when you stuff them into the disposal bags. Having fewer air spaces means you’ll be able to cram more leaves into each bag, meaning you’ll have to use less bags. The best mulches are porous enough to permit the penetration of air and water to the soil. Thus, this promotes plant health. As the leaf decomposes, valuable nutrients will be then released into the soil. This will be usually made available to your plants.

How to Choose The Best Leaf Mulcher

Here, we will help you understand what you need to check before purchasing a leaf mulcher.

  • Power of the motor

Generally speaking, the higher the engine wattage is the higher the horsepower. You can save money by purchasing a lower wattage machine. It’s important to consider how much waste you need to get through. Powerful motors will get through waste quicker and will be less likely to block up. So if you collect a lot of leaves in one go, then you should invest in a much more powerful machine. In general, standalone shredders are more powerful than the combined shredders and vacuums.

  • Safety Features

You can check customer reviews to see how often the system blocks up. Blockages can cause electrical problems. This will run the risk of accidents when unblocking the machine. Try to get a machine that has an automatic switch off function whenever the machine blocks. If possible, choose one that will switch off as soon as you remove the hopper.

  • Environmental Friendliness

If you are looking for a leaf mulcher to make compost, you will also help the environment and make a good impact. Gas powered chipper shredders are very powerful. They have higher emission and can also be a bit harder to control. Where possible, do try to get an electric shredder. You can also buy one that comes with a reusable collection bag. This is to further cut your impact on the environment.

  • Storage

Consider the place where you will be storing the shredder. Most of them are small enough to be noticeable in the average garage. If you are using a garden shed, you should consider getting a model that folds away or is quite a compact already. Many of the leaf mulchers today have improved a lot over time. This means that the newer ones you see today are more lightweight, easy to disassemble, and easy to transport.

Wrapping up

Aren’t leaf mulchers just absolutely nifty? If you spends heaps of time cleaning heaps of leaves, you should definitely consider adding one of these machines to your gardening arsenal. Not only does it enable you to do tough jobs in less time, it leaves you with compostable leaves; not only will you and your garden love this machine, so will the environment!

In this articles we’ve listed our top picks for leaf mulchers, describing why we love them and why we think you will too. We’ve also put together a handy guide to help you pick the best leaf mulcher for your gardening needs.

Gary Stephen
Gary Stephen

Hi, I am Gary Stephen. I have been gardening for a long time. Gardening gives us much benefits and pleasure. Many of us desire to have a garden, but it cannot fulfill the desire for the proper guide or instruction of gardening. So, I am eager to help them. For this purpose, I have developed the MyGardenPlant.com website to make a garden with the proper guide. So, you will get me beside you if you want to know anything about gardening.