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Consumer Guide To Environmentally Helpful Outdoor Power Equipment

Lawn & Garden Maintenance Equipment

Shredder/Grinders

Gas-powered shredder/grinders offer a versatile alternative to disposing yard debris by reducing large amounts of branches, twigs and leaves into small amounts that can be recycled back into your yard.

There are a variety of models on the market, including multi-use shredder/grinder/vacuums that can vacuum leaves and twigs from gutters, window wells and flower boxes with a hose attachment; shred leaves and yard debris; chip or shred tree branches up to 3" in diameter as well as twigs and other organic lawn debris. The bigger the job, the greater the need for more horsepower. Shredder/Grinder engine horsepower ranges anywhere from 1.5hp to over 10hp.

Some models offer optional tilt-down hoppers that allow for raking leaves into the machine from ground level.

Shredded or ground material may be spread as organic matter in gardens or as mulch in flower beds. Many homeowners like to use decorative wood chips around the base of trees and shrubs to retain moisture.

Electric shredder/grinders are manufactured with low horsepower motors and are primarily used to shred leaves. However, they can also chip tree branches up to 1-3" in diameter.

Safety Reminder
 
REMEMBER: Never place hands in bin to unclog leaves or twigs. Please read the manufacturer's operating instructions before operating a shredder/grinder or any type of outdoor power equipment.

Garden Tillers

Garden tillers are designed to loosen and till the soil to prepare it for planting vegetables or flowers and to turn under plants in the fall. There are several styles of tillers including hand-held cultivators, front-tine tillers and rear-tine tillers.

Gas or electric powered hand-held cultivators are best suited for small flowerbeds and gardens.

Front-tine tillers are generally preferred for smaller to medium size gardens, with low-emission engines ranging between 3hp to 5hp. The forward rotation of the front tines makes them suitable for soil conditioning, power composting and seed bed preparation.

Rear-tine tillers with engines ranging from 5hp to 8hp are a natural for larger gardens. These hard-working machines take most of the work out of tilling because the engine powers both the wheels and the tines, driving them forward for power composting and in reverse to break up hard, compacted soil.

Some rear-tine tillers offer "swing away" handles that allow the operator to walk alongside without stepping into the freshly turned furrow. There are also dual direction models on the market that can set the tines in reverse to break up hard, compacted ground or in forward motion for effortless tilling and blending.

Having a reliable tiller for creating your own garden can be a very environmentally friendly experience. A garden provides you with a place to use compost and recycle organic matter back into the ground. Besides, there's the extra benefit of enjoying a bountiful hobby while raising food for the dinner table or growing flowers to enhance the beauty of your home.

Safety Reminder
 
REMEMBER: Always keep feet away from the tiller's rotating tines when operating, especially in reverse. Be sure to read the operator's manual before operating the equipment.

Lawn Vacuums

Large capacity walk-behind lawn vacuums and blower/vacs can clear leaves and twigs off lawns and large areas quickly with minimum effort. Lawn vacuums use collection bags with up to a 6-bushel capacity to make it easy to dispose of debris.

Blower/vac combinations provide the choice of using the machine as a lawn vacuum or converting into a blower. Engine sizes range from 5hp to 8hp.

Several manufacturers market an optional conversion kit that changes the vacuum into a blower. Self-propelled models are also available.

Other options include a vacuum hose attachment for hard-to-reach places like window wells, gutters, and behind shrubs. Several models feature a tow bar for pulling behind a lawn or garden tractor.

Log Splitters

Log splitters use a hydraulic-powered ram to drive wooden logs from 6" to 14" in diameter against a solid steel wedge to create a plentiful supply of firewood.

Model sizes vary, offering 5hp to 8hp or more engines with vertical and horizontal splitting options that allow splitting of large logs vertically and small logs horizontally.

Safety features include a forward ram control lever that must be engaged before the log splitter will work and a jack stand to keep the log splitter level during operation.