I use a well known brand name electric powered convertible blower/shredder that will handle most leaves and leaf/pine needle mix. It has a shoulder strap and zippered bag, which I empty by spreading around plants, shrubs and trees. They usually cost about $50-60. I also have a large, 5hp shredder/chipper that I use for limbs(up to 3"), hedge & shrub trimmings and large quanities of pine needles and leaves. It also has a vac with a 6", 15'long flexible hose and a large bag. I use it a few times each year, mostly to reduce large quanities of collected material for spreading on paths and for the compost heap.
Please don't buy a gasoline powered unit, since you may live in my neighborhood! I am already overwhelmed with noise and carbon monoxide pollution from the daily use by landscapers of every gasoline powered lawn tool known to man, all running simultaneously.
Rb

I don't have a shredder. I blow all the leaves onto the lawn, attach the bag to the mower, and cut the grass. I get shredded leaves and grass clippings (brown stuff and green stuff) all mixed together for my compost pile.I toss in some pine straw and mix it all together, and by spring I have compost. I assume you could use it for mulch instead.

I have what Razorback mentions, the portable blower/shredder. I LOVE it, although you have to do lots of weeding out of large-medium size sticks so that you don't gum the thing up. But it can zip through a leaf pile in no time.
I bought an extra attachment that goes right into a trash can. I blow/rake the leaves in a pile, throw a large contractor bag in the trash can and then the machine directly deposits the chewed leaves into the bag/can. I throw in a handful of alfalfa and a cup of water, then I store the bags in the wayback for a year, and I get amazing leaf mold!

GGG

Thanks for your input. I tried the blower with a bag on the end and it was not successful at all. The areas where I have lawn I do just mow the leaves - but leave them on the lawn, or blow them onto the surrounding beds. That leaves a huge area where I just have plants and the creek. Some weeks last year I had twelve to fifteen bags of leaves. I don't want to get rid of them this year. Think I may get one of the electric shredders - but can only fijnd them on line. Thanks for your input.

For good results, buy the biggest gasoline powered machine, one that has a separate chute for sticks. Feed the thing slowly so that it doesn't clog. If stopping to empty the bag concerns you, then rig a baffle so that the shredded leaves hit a piece of plywood or other sturdy, upright surface and pile up, about 3 feet away. The machine that I have, you can let the leaf chute down to the ground so that you can just sweep the leaves in.

You'll need a mask if dust bothers you.
The handiest accessory is a strong teenaged boy.
Try to get one who doesnt' say, "Grandmother,
I worry about you; you work too hard."
That was before he learned he was being paid.

Nell

Nell,
I have one of those too except he is my son..I also have the same type of shredder with 2 chutes and it works awesome for me.I have alot of trees in the front side of my house and a section of woods,so I use it alot for mulch and compost.I am doing lasanga gardening too so am keeping it busy with limbs and leaves..Worth every cent I paid for it.
moonphase

I just ordered an Electric Leaf Shredder, the Flowtron LE-900 The Ultimate Mulcher. Has anyone had experience with this product? Any comments will be appreciated

thats the one I was looking at. Let me know what you think. Thanks