Leaf Blower Vacs
Clear the leaves in your garden with a leaf blower vac
Despite their attractive autumnal appearance, fallen leaves are actually a bit of a nuisance. This seemingly harmless garden debris is capable of killing lawns if left untended, and will also make paths and patios extremely slippery when it becomes wet.
On this basis, it is necessary to clear the pesky leaves before they inflict any damage on either you or your garden! The traditional approach is to deploy a garden rake and bag the leaves up by hand; thankfully there is an alternative to this laborious technique, and it comes in the form of the leaf blower vac.
Leaf blower vacs are a great addition to the garden shed. Not only are they adept at piling up garden leaves and other debris in a pile without much strain on the user, they feature a vacuum facility that enables the debris to be sucked up into an attached bag. These clever machines generally offer the additional benefit of shredding the waste into nutrient rich mulch that can be reintroduced into your garden with complete ease.
A number of well-known manufacturers produce leaf blower vacs, with models ranging from the basic electric version (ideal for small to medium gardens) to more powerful petrol-powered blower vacs that can cope with larger spaces and increased levels of waste.
This web site is packed full of information on these various models, and also features plenty of useful advice on issues such as the importance of clearing leaves and the relative merits of leaf blower vacs over the more traditional garden rake.
Features of Leaf Blower Vacs
Main Components
Leaf blower vacs are a great way to lighten the load whilst maintaining your garden during autumn, and they have a number of features which you should consider before deciding which one you want to buy. These versatile pieces of garden machinery are, of course, characterised by their capacity to both blow and suck up leaves in the garden. All leaf blower vacs have a storage bag of some description, although these will vary in capacity. In conjunction with the storage facility, blower vacs incorporate a shredding device which reduces the collected waste allowing for greater storage. As an add-on some blower vacs will have a roller head, which can be particularly useful on patios and driveways. We will look at some of these features in more detail below.
The dual function of both blowing and sucking up leaves is a unique feature of leaf blower vacs. It is possible to buy just leaf blowers, which are lighter and more manoeuvrable as they don't need a storage bag. However, many people are drawn to the versatility of the leaf blower vac. Most blower vacs incorporate a simple lever to switch between the two facilities quickly and easily.
The storage bag of a leaf blower vac is quite simply a heavy duty bag for storing the collected leaves and garden waste. The capacity of these bags will vary, but generally a bag of around 40 litres provides more than enough storage. This means fewer trips to the green bin, making your task quicker and easier.
All leaf blower vacs incorporate a shredding device to reduce the size of the waste it has inhaled. This again means less regular emptying; most blower vacs operate on a reduction ratio of roughly ten to one. This shredding function has the additional benefit of producing mulch as a waste product. Mulch provides an excellent cover for your flowerbeds and will ultimately degenerate into nutrient-rich compost.
Finally, one additional feature that many leaf blower vacs offer is a detachable nozzle with wheels which can be fitted to the end of the vac. This is perfect for pathways and driveways - it takes some of the weight off and gives you good control if you are trying to clear a large area.
Petrol Vs Electric Leaf Blower Vacs
Which is Best?
When it comes to buying a leaf blower vac, one of the main decisions you will need to make is whether you go for a petrol or an electric version. Both have their own advantages so it's worth exploring these before you make your final decision.
Petrol blower vacs have two main benefits - they are more powerful and your roaming capability is not limited by a length of cable. The power behind the petrol engine means that they are capable of blowing away or sucking up even the most stubborn of wet leaves, making them more thorough and more efficient. Without a cable tying you down, you are free to go wherever you want in and around the garden without having to mess around with extension cables - this really does make them much more user friendly.
Electric leaf blower vacs have the dual benefits of being a lot quieter and a lot more affordable. Not everyone needs a ridiculously powerful engine to get the job done, so for many homeowners the electric versions are the way to go. The fact that they are cheaper to buy and quieter (so as to not annoy the neighbours!) makes them even more appealing.
In conclusion, your decision should really be based on your own personal needs. For most people looking to make their garden work a little easier but don't want to spend a fortune, an electric blower vac is probably the best option. If you have a bigger property and a lot of ground to cover then the petrol option is probably the way forward. One thing to look out for is that many of the petrol versions are leaf blowers only, without the vacuum option, so make sure you read through the features and double check what you're buying!
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If you gave up on your garden at the end of the summer, but are determined to turn over a new leaf (so to speak) this year, then we recommend investing in a leaf blower vac.
A leaf blower vac will quickly pick up the leaves and debris cluttering up your neglected outside spaces, leaving the coast clear for you to tend to your garden and help it to flourish when spring comes.
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Debbys Garden Links - The UK's most comprehensive link directories to gardening related supplier and service websites.
Flymo 2700 Leaf Blower Vac
A great value leaf blower vac from Flymo
Leaf Blower Vacs
1. A leaf blower vac will make light work of clearing up leaves and debris
2. Leaf blower vacs produce a useful mulch which is rich in nutrients
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