What Is the Best Blade for Mulching Leaves?

Mulching Mower

• A mulching mower, which is designed to cut and recut grass and leaves into tiny pieces, is the best choice for chopping leaves into mulch. The deck and blades work together to suspend the shreds so they are cut multiple times. The shreds are then redeposited onto the lawn, so you will need to rake them up.

Rotary Mower

• Regular mowers have one blade and cut grass and leaves only one time. To shred leaves, lay them out on the lawn, set the mower blade to 3 inches and run the mower over the same area several times from different directions until the leaves are chopped finely enough. You also can buy a mulching blade for a rotary mower, which will do a better job, although not as good as that of a mulching mower or shredder. Some mowers have optional leaf-shredding attachments and screens.

Chipper-Shredder

• A small chipper won't handle a large amount of leaves well, but you won't need a top-of-the-line 8-horsepower model, either. Buy a machine that is strong enough to handle your leaf volume, and always shred the leaves when they are dry, following the manufacturer's instructions for best results. Chipper-shredders use spinning blades, hammers or flails to reduce leaves to fine pieces. Wear safety glasses, hearing protectors, leather boots and leather gloves.

String Trimmer

• You can shred leaves in a 32- or 55-gallon metal garbage can. Fill the can about half full of dry leaves, and insert the string trimmer, pulling it up and down slowly through the leaves. Always wear eye protection and gloves.