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Leaf Blowers Buying Guide

Are pine needles and leaves overtaking your front lawn?  Is your garden  full of unwanted debris that's impeding the growth of your veggies and flowers?   A leaf blower may do just the trick.  Capable of blowing, chopping and sucking up debris, these powerful machines are great if your landscape  needs a spruce up.  But do the research before making any hefty purchases, because these handy outdoor tools  come in all different varieties.

Decisions to Make

Gasoline Versus Electric

Gasoline-powered leaf blowers  are:

  • More powerful.
  • Noisy and tend to vibrate.

Electric leaf blowers  are:

  • Quieter.
  • Lighter.
  • Less likely to vibrate.
  • Likely to require a cord, which can restrict movement.
  • Capable of using rechargeable batteries.
  • The least powerful, best suited for small yards and driveways.

Blower Versus Blower/Vacuum
  • Blowers simply blow debris into a pile, which you must then scoop into bags or add to compost. Most cities have ordinances that restrict you from blowing material into the street or into other people's yards, so familiarize yourself with the rules before purchasing and using a traditional leaf blower.
  • Blower/vacuum  combinations allow you to reverse the airflow and suck up leaves and debris from the yard. This can be particularly useful for sucking leaves out of shrubs, but beware of sticks and rocks that can jam the vacuum function. You may want to look for built-in mulching capabilities to avoid this problem.

Handheld, Backpack or Walk-Behind

Handheld leaf blowers  are often the most popular models because they are portable and inexpensive.  They work well for small yards where because you don't have to carry it around for too long, and they come in both gasoline and electric varieties so you can pick your preference.

Backpack leaf blowers  fit on a harness that you wear on your back.  You control the hose with your hand, and can travel across larger yards without getting as tired as you would with a handheld.  These models are always gas-powered, however, so if you're not big on the smell or the noise, you may want to rethink this choice.

Walk-behind leaf blowers  are mounted on wheels so they are very easy to manoeuvre.  They are big, expensive and gas-powered, thus suited for only the largest of yards.

Major Manufacturers

Related Guides

Snow Blowers

Lawn Mowers

Hedge Trimmers

Gardening Hand Tools

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