Raking is still one of the best ways to rid the yard of leaves when autumn arrives but a leaf blower can make the job much easier if the leaves are scattered into landscaping behind bushes or behind outdoor fixed objects such as air-conditioners, outdoor furniture, or garden ornaments.
Here is a series of Questions and Answers to consider that will help guide you to the perfect blower for your needs.
Q. Do you want a gas powered blower or an electric blower?
This is probably the main question to answer first because it narrows down the choices quickly. For me, I quickly discovered that electric was going to be my preference. Read on to find out why…..
Q. Does weight make a difference? (I will be carrying this thing around and when I get going with garden work I don’t like to stop so having a blower that is manageable for a woman is important to me.)
A. Electric blowers are lighter than gas blowers. They are also quieter according to most of the reviews I have read.
Q. What maintenance is required?
Electric leaf blowers are much easier to maintain than gas blowers. Why? Using the right type of fuel for your specific gas blower is important. Not following the guidelines can lead to expensive repairs. Just as certain types of fuels are recommended by car manufacturers, so it is with brands of gas blowers. Electric blowers do not require anything but a working outlet.
Q. How about productivity?
A. Gas leaf blowers win out here. This is usually why most landscapers go this route. If you are covering a large area, dragging a cord around behind you may not be practical. There are also some restrictions on how long a cord is recommended as the maximum so before you buy an electric model it would be important to check this out if you intend to cover a large area and your source of electricity is limited.
Q. Is having a vacuum option important to you?
A. Some leaf blowers come with an optional vacuum attachment that can mulch the leaves. We recommend the Toro Electric Leaf Blower with mulching ring.This is a nice option for two reasons. It makes clean up quick work of the leaves that blow into your garage in nooks and crannies and the mulched leaves can be spread throughout your garden in the fall creating a protective mulch layer. Your flowers will thank you in the spring.
kyle johnson says
We are in the process of spring cleaning our home right now. It was interesting to learn that leaf blowers that are electric tend to make less noise than a gas one. I hope this article can help us to know what materials will best suit us when it comes to fixing our lawn.