When it comes time to clean up winter storm debris, you want the best shredder chipper for your suburban homestead. A good shredder chipper reduces limb and leaf debris to mulch size pieces that can be used in your compost or – sometimes – even used decoratively.

The Best Shredder Chipper for the suburban, urban or rural homesteader is the one that fits your property, your life-style and you. With that said, there are many different types, sizes and styles of shredder chippers from which to choose.

There is a wide range of products available on the market today, and below I have reviewed 6 of the very best options.

**Below, you will find more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices and read customer reviews on Amazon.

What to look for

When thinking about buying a shredder chipper, one of the first things to do is to think about the area where you are going to be using it. If you have a large woodlot you are going to need a much bigger chipper than if you have a fenced backyard with a couple of fruit trees and a vigorously growing hedge.

Check the size ratings

If you have done any pruning and trimming on your property, you have a good idea of the size limbs that you want to feed to a chipper. For example, if you frequently have storm debris that measures more than 3” in diameter, there is a good chance that you will need a heavy-duty chipper. If you normally have twigs that are less than 1.5 inches, you can probably get away with a much smaller machine.

Electric, gasoline or hydraulic

Chipper/shredders have different sorts of power sources. Some of the smaller ones plug into regular house current using an electrical cord – and some of the mid-sized ones, as well. Some of the mid-range or larger, run on gasoline. The largest ones tend to run off the hydraulic connection of a farm tractor. One model has its own, dedicated hydraulic power so that you don’t have to run the tractor at the same time as the chipper. Electric ones are fine for backyard work, but if you have a wood lot, you will probably want one that is gas powered or even hydraulic.

Think about the size and storage

Unless you are running a landscaping company or a tree service, there is a good chance that you will not want to have your chipper/shredder outside in all weather. Some of these machines are quite large, weighing up to 990 pounds! Clearly, that is a tool that you can’t just park on the back porch. Others, however, are much smaller and can easily fit into a garden shed or garage.

Getting it started

Like chainsaws and lawn mowers, some models are pull started. If you are a petite person, you might want to look into an electric model simply because it is going to be easier to start. Of course, if you have a huge woodlot, you might need to find one of the gas-powered models that has an electric start or something similar.

Safety First!

Not to be an alarmist, but wood chippers are dangerous. They are serious tools intended to chop up wood – your flesh, and that of those you hold dear, are not nearly as tough as a tree limb. For that reason, it is always a good idea to carefully follow safety guidelines, even when using the little ones.

Watch your oil level

Many of the chipper/shredder models require oil to keep them running smoothly. You can prolong the life of your chipper/shredder by reading the manual carefully, and determining how often and how much oil should be put into the machine.

Read the Manual

In fact, it is a good idea to always read the manual before operating any machine. This is especially true of machines that cut or shred wood. Each model is a little bit different, and you are likely to have a higher success rate with your chipper/shredder if you pay attention to those little differences.

After completing the research, my favorite is the Tazz. It is easy to store, seems to operate reliably, and the price is modest compared to some of the others. For a gardener or urban homesteader, this one might be worth the investment – if only in reducing the number of trips to the recycling center with loads of limb and leaf debris.

The Tazz has sturdy wheels, and bent-bar type of kickstand – it is stable during use, and relatively easy to move around. It accepts up to a 3” limb, and can handle both twigs and leaves.

If you have a large woodlot, you would probably prefer either the WoodMaxx or the Nortrac, as these are designed to work with a tractor to take care of larger jobs, but they are overkill for most suburban and urban dwellers.

Snow Joe is a cutie, but really only good for shrub trimmings. But if you do that a lot, it might be just the one.

For most uses, I do favor the Tazz. It is midrange in size, modest in price, and seems capable of handling most lawn and garden clean-up.