Do leaf mulchers really work?

We found that standalone models are powerful but require a lot of raking or blowing, while handheld leaf mulchers can save you time (and many of them also work as leaf blowers ). For big yards with piles of wet leaves, walk-behind leaf mulchers are a great choice since they can cover a lot of ground quickly and mulch pine needles and twigs along with leaves.

For more information, please visit Wantong.

We researched a variety of leaf mulchers (including handheld, stationary, and walk-behind models), and tested our favorites in our yards around the country. We then evaluated each model for effectiveness, ease of use, overall value, and ability to handle tough lawn debris like damp leaves and pine needles.

Leaf mulchers can save you time compared to bagging and disposing of leaves, while also providing you with a free source of mulch. The best leaf mulchers shred leaves, grass, and other organic yard debris into a nutrient-rich material that you can use for landscaping and gardening to improve your soil and control weeds.

Best Overall

WORX 13-Amp Electric Leaf Mulcher

PHOTO: Amazon

$190

$121 at Amazon

$121 at Walmart

$121 at Home Depot

What We Like

• Creates finely shredded mulch

• Mulches up to 53 pounds of leaves per minute

• Easy to assemble and to store

What We Don't Like

• Not for use with twigs or larger debris

• Lots of dust

The Worx Electric Leaf Mulcher is a stationary model that's easy to set up and use, and it chews through both wet and dry leaves at an impressive rate. We put this model through extensive real-world testing in our New England garden in the fall, and we shredded both wet and dry leaves during our test sessions.

We found this corded stand-alone leaf mulcher to be a sturdy choice, with a 13-amp motor that can eat through up to 53 gallons of leaves per minute. We loved how fast it went through our leaves (and we had plenty), and the finely shredded mulch was the perfect winter ground cover.

The cutting head is kind of like an upside-down weed whacker, and we found that this worked beautifully for dried leaves. It also did a good job with wet leaves, but we noticed that the resulting mulch was not as finely shredded. Since you need to rake the leaves up first, we think this mulcher is best for urban gardens and suburban yards than for sprawling acreage.

While testing, it was very simple to add leaves into the Worx Electric Leaf Mulcher

 The Spruce / Lindsay Boyers

Worx designed this mulcher only to handle leaves, and that's in line with our findings&#;in our tests, twigs either passed through unshredded or occasionally shot back out of the top of the mulcher. We strongly recommend that you wear both a face mask and eye protection when using any leaf mulcher since twigs can shoot back toward your face, and shredding dry leaves with any mulcher is a very dusty task.

Worx claims that the mulching ratio for this device is 11:1, meaning that for every 11 bags of fallen dried leaves dropped into the mulcher, it produces just one bag of finely shredded mulch, and we found that to be true. The garden tool mulched the leaves just as fast as we could toss them into the hopper, dropping the resulting shreds into a plastic or paper yard bag secured by the universal bag holder.

We also found it very easy to assemble the mulcher, and once the season is over, it's also easy to store, thanks to its simple design with pieces that can nest together when taken apart. While there's nothing fancy about this leaf mulcher, it does an excellent job at its one assigned task and makes fall leaf disposal quite a bit faster and easier than it would be otherwise.

Type: Stand-alone | Power Source: Corded electric | Voltage/Amps: 13 amps | Mulching Ratio: 11:1 | Weight: 20 pounds

• PHOTO: The Spruce / Lindsay Boyers

• PHOTO: The Spruce / Lindsay Boyers

Best Value

Black+Decker 40V Cordless Leaf Blower

PHOTO: Amazon

$189

$160 at Amazon

What We Like

• Lightweight and easy to maneuver

• Easy setup and assembly

• Intuitive controls

• Adjustable power levels

What We Don't Like

• Ineffective at lower power levels

• Mulch bag is small

We put this blower/mulcher combo to work in the front yard and parking areas of our corner lot, and we were impressed with how comfortable and effective it was. We used it to blow grass clippings off the parking area and to vacuum up grass clippings as well, and it was just as effective at both tasks.

This battery-powered model features intuitive controls that we were able to figure out without the manual, including multiple power settings. We didn&#;t find the lower power options very useful (maybe for blowing sand or cobwebs) and had to use the two highest settings for blowing and vacuuming grass clippings.

Even when running at the highest setting, we were able to use this blower/mulcher for 30 minutes at a time without coming close to draining the battery. The battery has a charge indicator, and we estimate that we were using about half (or maybe a bit more) in a half-hour session.

The Black+Decker Cordless Leaf Blower has a small-capacity collection bag for the vacuum which we used for grass clippings.

The Spruce / Anna Knief

Switching this combo unit between blower and mulcher modes is easy and doesn&#;t require any tools, and it worked well in both modes. The bag is very small though (about .62 cubic feet) and the 6:1 mulching ratio is a little low, so expect to empty the bag pretty often. For comparison, the Greenworks Cordless Brushless Leaf Blower/Vacuum (our best cordless pick) has a higher 10:1 mulching ratio.

While we would have preferred a bigger bag or higher mulch ratio, we think this combo unit provides a lot of value. It&#;s lightweight and comfortable to hold in both modes, provides a strong 120 mph air speed in the blower mode, and handles grass clippings and dry leaves quite well.

Type: Handheld | Power Source: Battery | Voltage/Amps: 40V  | Mulching Ratio: 6:1 | Weight: 5.2 pounds

• PHOTO: The Spruce / Anna Knief

• PHOTO: The Spruce / Anna Knief

• PHOTO: The Spruce / Anna Knief

• PHOTO: The Spruce / Anna Knief

• PHOTO: The Spruce / Anna Knief

• PHOTO: The Spruce / Anna Knief

• PHOTO: The Spruce / Anna Knief

Best Cordless

Greenworks Cordless Leaf Blower/Vacuum

PHOTO: Courtesy of Greenworks

$250

$189 at Amazon

$213 at Walmart

View on Greenworks

What We Like

• Easy setup

• Light and easy to handle

• Comfortable during extended use

• Relatively quiet operation

What We Don't Like

• Bag is very long and may drag for small users

This combination leaf blower and mulcher from Greenworks is our favorite cordless option because it&#;s comfortable to use, easy to maneuver, and effective at both blowing and vacuuming (with a 10:1 mulching ratio that&#;s quite high for a battery-powered handheld model like this).

We used this blower/mulcher to tidy up our patio and vacuum up dry grass clippings from our .25-acre yard, walkways, and flower garden. It handled the slightly wet grass clippings very well in both blowing and vacuuming modes, clearing our patio and paths, and sucking up freshly cut grass from the lawn for use in our outdoor tumbling composter.

One thing we love about this blower/mulcher is that it&#;s fairly quiet, with the lower settings not making much noise at all. Even at the highest setting, it wasn&#;t nearly as loud as the gas blowers we&#;ve heard. We were able to use it for extended periods of time without feeling uncomfortable or like we needed ear protection.

We found switching between the mulching and blowing modes to be as easy as opening a vent and attaching a tube.

The Spruce / Jenica Currie

We also like how easy it is to switch this combo unit from the blower mode to the mulcher mode. The tubes swapped out quickly and easily, and the bag was also easy to attach. We did have a bit of a problem where the bag seemed to come unzipped (and allow some grass clippings to fly out), but it didn&#;t happen again after we zipped it back up.

While we had an easy time operating this blower/mulcher, we did note that it feels a little awkward in the mulching mode. Since you have to essentially hold it upside down, which makes it tough to push the power button. That isn&#;t a huge deal though, and it didn&#;t impede the effectiveness of the vacuuming/mulching mode. The bag is also pretty long, so for shorter users, it may drag on the ground a bit during use.

Type: Handheld | Power Source: Battery | Voltage/Amps: 40V  | Mulching Ratio: 10:1 | Weight: 5.6 pounds

• PHOTO: The Spruce / Jenica Currie

• PHOTO: The Spruce / Jenica Currie

• PHOTO: The Spruce / Jenica Currie

• PHOTO: The Spruce / Jenica Currie

Best Gas

ECHO Shred-n-Vac Gas Leaf Blower/Vacuum

PHOTO: ECHO

$269 at Amazon

$250 at Home Depot

$250 at Farmandfleet.com

What We Like

• CARB compliant

  Are you interested in learning more about leaf grinding machine? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

• High air flow and air speed

• Variable speed

What We Don't Like

• Requires mixing gas and oil

• Requires occasional oil changes

If you prefer a gas mulcher for extra power, we recommend the Shred-n-Vac from Echo. This handheld mulcher can also vacuum without mulching and switch to blower mode for clearing away all types of yard debris from walkways, flowerbeds, and other outdoor areas.

The Shred-n-Vac is very effective on dry leaves, with a 12:1 mulching ratio. It also does a good job at vacuuming up pine needles but is not quite as effective at sucking up wet leaves or other debris. It is not suited to mulching pinecones, acorns, sticks, or other hard lawn debris.

It includes a 2-bushel reusable collection bag with a rear zipper for easy emptying. The bag has an attached adjustable shoulder strap for better comfort while working. Plus, the 35-inch-long intake tube lets you reach the ground without having to stoop, which makes yard duty much easier.

This blower/vacuum uses a 25.4 cc professional-grade two-stroke engine, so you'll need to mix gas and oil in a 50:1 ratio when filling the fuel tank. Still, once powered on, which is generally easy thanks to the pro-fire electronic ignition, you'll enjoy the variable speed control with maximums of 391 cfm air flow and 165 mph airspeed.

Like any gas-powered tool, there are some fumes, but as this is a CARB-compliant product, there are fewer smelly emissions. You will need to change the oil periodically, although this isn't difficult.

Type: Handheld | Power Source: Gas | Voltage/Amps: Not applicable | Mulching Ratio: 12:1 | Weight: 12.6 pounds

What are cfm and mph?

Cubic feet per minute (cfm) measures the volume of air (and debris) a handheld mulcher sucks into the mulching chamber each minute. Miles per hour (mph) indicates the speed the air moves, allowing the mulcher to suck up heavier materials like wet leaves and chop them up more effectively.

Best Backpack

Craftsman Backpack Leaf Blower/Vacuum/Mulcher

PHOTO: Courtesy of Amazon

$94

$70 at Amazon

$90 at Lowes

$90 at Farmandfleet.com

What We Like

• Comfortable straps

• High speed and air flow

• Easy-to-empty collection bag

What We Don't Like

• Single speed

Toting a handheld leaf mulcher can be tiring, but this 3-in-1 model from Craftsman has shoulder straps attached to the 55-liter collection bag, so you can comfortably adjust the weight over your back to reduce strain.

You can use the tool as a leaf blower, vacuum only, or vacuum and mulch. When mulching, the ratio is 12:1, so you can clear quite a bit of fallen leaves from your lawn without taking up a huge amount of space in your trash or compost bin. When used in blower mode, the maximum speed is 260 mph, and the maximum air flow is 450 cfm, but note that this tool has just single-speed settings; you cannot adjust it to higher or lower speeds.

This is a reasonably priced addition to your yard maintenance tool collection, as it does very well in vacuuming or blowing dried or damp leaves. Still, it's not exceptional when it comes to sucking up pine needles, and it's not recommended for twigs, acorns, or other hard materials.

Once the collection bag is full, it has a wide mouth that zips open for easy emptying. As this is a corded tool, you'll need to provide an outdoor-rated extension cord. If you're looking for a backpack-style leaf blower, this blower/vacuum provides good performance for lightweight maintenance around the yard and on your walkways.

Type: Handheld | Power Source: Corded electric | Voltage/Amps: 12 amps | Mulching Ratio: 12:1 | Weight: 11.3 pounds

Best Walk-Behind

Troy-Bilt Gas Self-Propelled Chipper/Shredder/Vacuum

PHOTO: The Home Depot

$999 at Home Depot

View on Troybilt.com

What We Like

• Onboard chipper for debris up to 1.5 inches

• Adjustable suction nozzle height

• Self-propelled

• Up to 10-foot hose for use under trees and shrubs

What We Don't Like

• Heavy

If you have a large yard, or a property with a lot of messy trees, then you might want to consider upgrading to this powerful walk-behind mulcher from Troy-Bilt. Two-speed self-propelled steering makes for effortless operation, and it shreds your leaves into a fine mulch without needing to rake and bag first. All vacuumed debris is finely shredded in an 8:1 mulching ratio before being sucked into the reusable 2-bushel collection bag.

With a 24-inch vacuum width that reduces the number of passes you need to make, this mulcher is especially well-suited to large jobs, as it pulls itself along while easily sucking up fallen leaves, both wet and dry, as well as small twigs and other lawn debris.

You can adjust the height of the suction nozzle from as low as .63 inches to as high as 4.13 inches to suck up leaves, pine needles, and small twigs. For larger branches or debris up to 1.5 inches in diameter, including acorns and pinecones, there's a chipper chute built right into the side of the mulcher.

This walk-behind mulcher also has an onboard 7-foot suction hose with an additional 3-foot extension if needed for quickly and easily vacuuming underneath shrubs, behind trees, around flowerbeds, or in other areas where you can't fit the mulcher itself.

Type: Walk-behind | Power Source: Gas | Voltage/Amps: Not applicable | Mulching Ratio: 8:1 | Weight: 135 pounds

Best Heavy-Duty

Flowtron Leaf-Eater Mulcher/Shredder

PHOTO: Amazon

$279

$213 at Amazon

$250 at Wayfair

$250 at Home Depot

What We Like

• Settings for pine needles and thatch

• Handles wet leaves

• Hopper can be tilted to any angle

What We Don't Like

• Requires frequent replacement of cutting lines

Many leaf mulchers struggle to handle pine needles or wet leaves, but this stand-alone model from Flowtron easily shreds both, along with dried leaves, grass clippings, lawn thatch, and even paper. It's priced about $100 more than the Worx WG430 13-Amp Electric Leaf Mulcher (our overall best recommendation), but it's worth the extra money if you need a heavier-duty model that can mulch tough materials like pine needles and twigs.

A lever on the device lets you set the appropriate shredding action for the material you are mulching. Just toss your debris into the large funnel, which can tilt to any angle for easy loading. Once inside the hopper, the double heavy-duty cutting lines make quick work of organic material, with an 11:1 mulching ratio.

Shredded materials can be deposited in a paper disposable yard waste bag or a large reusable collection bag, and you can even set this mulcher atop a trash container and let the clippings fall right into the can.

While the Leaf-Eater doesn't disassemble for storage, the hopper does fold all the way down to minimize its size, and at a lightweight 17 pounds, its handles make it easy to tote out to the lawn for leaf collection and then back to the garage or storage shed when you're done.

This is a corded tool that requires an outdoor-rated extension cord with a maximum length of 100 feet. It comes with 36 additional cutting lines, but note that it does go through them fairly quickly when mulching pine needles or wet leaves.

Type: Stand-alone | Power Source: Corded electric | Voltage/Amps: 5 amps | Mulching Ratio: 11:1 | Weight: 17 pounds

Has the annual ritual of hauling leaves to the curb lost its appeal? Or maybe you&#;re considering starting a compost bin? Either way, it&#;s a great time to invest in a leaf mulcher.

What Is a Leaf Mulcher?

A leaf mulcher is a standalone or handheld device that sucks in leaves and tears them into small pieces. This makes it far easier to take leaves to the trash. Or, better yet, it makes it easy to reuse leaves by turning them into compost by shredding them into much smaller pieces.

How Does a Leaf Mulcher Work?

Leaf mulchers thrash leaves into small pieces with blades or strings. Handheld mulchers often can function as leaf blowers or vacuums, sending the mulch into a collection bag.

With standalone units, leaves go in the top and come out the bottom as mulch. You can catch the mulch in a collection bag, spread it across the ground or compost it.

Types of Leaf Mulchers

Handheld and standalone are the main types. Most are electric, although there are gas-powered models available. Gas-powered standalone mulchers usually chip small branches, and often straddle the line between a leaf mulcher and a full wood chipper (speaking of, check out our top picks&#;the Power King Chipper Shredder and the Sun Joe Chipper).

Electric standalone mulchers almost always use a power cord, while handheld mulchers come corded or cordless.

Leaf Mulcher Features and Uses

Handheld mulchers are great for removing leaves from flower beds or bushes, where raking might be destructive. Standalone units don&#;t help with the actual leaf collection; you&#;ll still need to rake or blow the leaves to them. But once you gather the leaves, you can&#;t beat a standalone mulcher for handling lots of them.

The &#;compression ratio&#; of a mulcher refers to the reduction in volume of a load of leaves. If 10 gallons of leaves produces one gallon of mulch, that&#;s a ratio of 10:1. A high compression ratio makes the leaves much easier to fit into small containers, which are much easier to carry to the curb or any collection location.

Which Leaf Mulcher Should I Buy?

The biggest factors are the amount and type of material you plan to mulch. If you&#;re handling a few gallons of leaves, you can get away with a low cost unit. If you&#;re handling many bushels of leaves, sticks and assorted wind-blown trash, go for a heavy-duty mulcher. There are a number of mulchers to fit any leaf cleanup.

Handheld shredders should be comfortable to carry and feature a solid enclosure to prevent leaf particles getting inside. Other than that, they should be viewed as part of an existing leaf blower. These two-in-one tools are an excellent choice for multiple clearing chores.

&#;They can be used as a broom to clean up construction sites and saw dust/debris from home projects,&#; says Woodstock Hardware owner Vince Christofora. He added they&#;re also &#;great to help clean light snow accumulations from sidewalks, decks and driveways. They can even be a great dusting tool &#; just make sure you have any light objects put away!&#;

If you need an affordable blower/mulcher, check out the Toro . For light-duty standalone shredders, look for easy-to-change cutting elements and a sturdy base. A good choice for light- to medium-duty mulching is the 21-inch Flowtron Leaf-Eater LE900.

A heavy-duty shredder needs more stability and power. While it&#;s not as easy to transport as a light-duty model, you should still be able to move it around your yard. The 15-amp Sun Joe CJ603E, which can shred branches up to 1.7 inches in diameter, is a good choice for more robust mulching.

How Much Does a Leaf Mulcher Cost?

Prices range from $70 to $150 for light-duty leaf mulchers. Heavy-duty leaf mulchers don&#;t cost much more, usually around $175 to $300. Anything above that range should function as a wood chipper as well as a leaf mulcher. Those more powerful chipper/mulchers can cost $500 and up.

The ideal balance of price and power is a machine that slightly exceeds your needs so you&#;re not pushing its limitations. Where that sweet spot falls for you mostly depends on how many leaves you deal with each year. For most DIYers, $150 is a reasonable starting range. If you can&#;t afford one, then learn how to mulch leaves without a mower.

Leaf Mulcher Safety and Maintenance

It should go without saying, but never stick your hand into the mulcher while it&#;s running. Sooner or later, every leaf shredder will clog up. When that happens, resist the urge to push the load through with a stick. Be safe and disconnect the power before clearing the clog.

Beyond that, keep in mind the mulcher will kick up a fair amount of dust and debris during operation. Catching leaf debris in your eye probably won&#;t send you to the hospital, but it&#;s extremely uncomfortable. Avoid that by wearing eye protection and a mask. Depending on how noisy the mulcher gets, wear ear plugs for hearing protection. Gas-powered leaf mulchers generally are louder than electric models.

Leaf mulcher maintenance mostly entails wiping away leaf dust and changing out the trimmer strings as needed. Gas-powered units will also require a tune-up once a year or so. Here are a few tips for making leaf mulch.

&#;

If you want to learn more, please visit our website herbs and spice grinder machine.