this comes up , but I think your string trimmer funnel is the best option for leaves if you dont have a lawnmower. There are old animal fodder shredding devices (see chaff cutter etc.) used for breaking up larger plant matter that are hand cranked see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VMuOFdi9MY&t=2s. this is not a particularly safe device BTW.

For a while I tried a large paper cutter mounted next to the lid of my compost bin but its not ideal... I just chop with long handled hedge trimmers these days...

Thank you, chadinlg. Yes, safety is key, don’t want to lose any body parts trying the “ this device is not intended for…” thing.

I can probably re-organize some space in the garage for shredder to reside for 2-3 months— I think that’s part of it, I don’t have a system for several shredding sessions spaced out, capturing the leaves in the most shredder- convenient areas over time ( this includes up by the porch & walkways), then whole leaves farther away/more sticks can go to a bin or 2 and a few bags, and then some have to go to city yard waste- compost system.

Well, whaddya know. I tried using my lightweight string trimmer on a new batch of leaves inside one of the composters, just partially full— these composters are the square plastic ones , so akin to the garbage can idea— and was able to shred them quite a bit, inconsistently of course, but reduced the volume occupied, plus I think the trauma to the leaves may help them soak up rainwater better & and invite the biome in better—

This is pretty good news because I can see a dual approach, enabling me to use more of my tools- abundant leaves. Weed whacking inside the bin after adding a foot or so of dry leaves breaks them down some & keeps letting me add more of what I can rake up, and it’s in a different area but easy to carry the battery- powered whacker to. Less complicated to use just that tool . Then the standing shredder does a better shredding job, more suitable for either immediate direct mulching or lasagne - bed building, & collected in bags if I want hold some , or if lots I just add them to a composter also, and I just focus on the leaf fall in area around where I can set it up.

I have 2 leaf bins for whole leaves which produce leaf mold every 2 years. That seemed like a long time to wait in the beginning, but now I harvest from one or the other each spring. Grass clippings (or other nitrogen contributions) speed up leaf breakdown considerably. Do you put any leaves in your compost bins? I put some whole leaves in and when I harvest in the spring, any forkfulls that aren't mostly broken down go back in my newly emptied bin.

All of the chipped leaves I have come from other sources---neighbors or the town composting facility, which is open to the public twice a month..

Wear eye protection when using that weed wacker. Nice to hear that you understand that leaves make a great mulch. If I need mulch, I'll use a fairly rough, mostly composted product for mulch---not necessarily completely broken down.

annpat, yes, I put leaves in my compost; that was my discussion. I do add “ greens” when I can, less in winter of course compared to spring & summer when I prune some things, and early fall when taking down tomato plants or spent annuals, things after the first frost. I have separate bins for kitchen waste fruits & veggies.

I use quite a few different things as direct mulch when available— of course shredded leaves, or tiny leaves from Japanese maple or azalea, or oak blooms, or compost itself. I’ll add some grass clippings to leaf compost that still has away to go, but also use grass clippings in thin layers ( so will dry and break down) as mulch on some wild areas that are sparsely planted.

I was confused. I thought your "compost bins" were full of leaves presently. I understand now. I use my kichen waste to speed the composting of my leaves, but I presume you have a reason for separating them.

When I was broken-hearted once, I treated myself to an 8-hp chipper and I felt a lot better.