Your perfect lawn is covered in leaves and the patio has become slippery. It is time for the leaf vacuum to do its job. Unfortunately these products vary a great deal in cost functionality and ease of use. So how to choose one that will restore your garden to order and not break your back or budget in the process?
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Types of Leaf Vacuums
You can get combination leaf vacuums and blowers but often that means they do neither job well. There is cordless, petrol, plug in and gas versions – it depends on your need. There are lawn mower style vacuums, portable leaf vacuums, gas powered heavy duty back pack style leaf vacuums. You need to consider the size of your garden and the ease of access around it before choosing your leaf vacuum. Expect to pay anything from $50 to $250 depending on the style of lawn vacuum that you buy.
Choosing a leaf vacuum
- Power source – do you have an outside power socket and an extension cord? An electric leaf vacuum is your best choice with no battery charging or messy petrol or gas maintenance. If you need to vacuum leaves in awkward places consider a cordless version. Heavy duty leaf vacuums are petrol powered which can be a bit noisy and smelly but they are stronger and tend to be more efficient.
- Quantity of leaves – a few leaves on your deck or on the drive are easier to vacuum up. You will not need much more than a 120mph size leaf vacuum although one with a nozzle is better for getting into the cracks.
- Size of garden – a large garden with a lot of trees means you need a heavy duty vacuum with good power and adapters for the different jobs.
- Disposal method – some vacuums shred as they collect, making it easier to dispose of your leaves. However you have to stop more often to empty them.
- Capacity of vacuum – a few leaves then you do not need large collection bags. You can choose varieties that have bags from 70 liter capacity, to lawn mower style vacuums with 200 liter box capacity.
- Cost – there needs to be a balance between what you can afford and how much labor saving you are interested in. At the bottom end of the range you can buy a leaf vacuum that does the job but you have to empty it often and you will have to get the leaves in awkward places. At the top of the range you can vacuum your lawn, mulch and empty in one. The best products come with large capacity boxes, tools you can add on for all the awkward jobs and can deal with soggy leaves that have partly mulched into your grass!
In the end, your choice is a matter of preference, cost versus versatility and ease of use. Do not forget, leaves don’t fall all year round and when they do, if you mulch them they are a good source of compost that can be used for your gardening.
