Electric Leaf Blowers Are Available In A Number Of Configurations

Leaf blowers are undoubtedly one of the most used and appreciated lawn or landscaping tools for many homeowners and especially professional lawn companies.

These powerful units can quickly move mounds of leaves and other debris into piles which can then be easily picked up for disposal.

Leaf blowers are available in a number of configurations.

* Basic electric leaf blowers
* Basic gas leaf blowers
* Leaf blower vacuum models
* Leaf blower vacuum and mulcher models

Each of these individual units can be had in different forms such a hand held models or backpack models.

These simple leaf blowers can be used year around to clean patios, driveways and walks of litter. During the fall season they are in invaluable for gathering or clearing leaves. For added convenience the combination units which are both blower and vacuum make picking up leaves from small or medium size yards a simple task.

Before Purchasing One Of the Electric Leaf Blowers With Vacuum Check The Bag

These units have attached bags which hold the accumulated leaves. The bags are then emptied into suitable containers or perhaps into piles for burning or composting. These vacuum bags of course have to be limited in size for the hand held and backpack models because they can become extremely heavy especially if the leaves or debris you are picking up is wet.

If you choose one of these blower/vacuum models you will want to look for some important features. Because you will be emptying the bag very often you should make sure that the unit you choose has an simple method of attaching and removing the bag and a good method of emptying it. Does it have a zippered opening which will be large enough to quickly remove the contents?

Also these combination units will need some method of switching from blower to vacuum. Is this easily accomplished without struggling especially with backpack models. Some of the electric leaf blowers have two speed adjustments to allow a lower air volume around flower beds and other areas where a strong blast may cause damage.

For the ultimate advantage when picking up leaves you might want to consider the models which are capable of mulching leaves as they are vacuumed. This feature quickly reduces the volume of leaf debris and is also an advantage when composting is a consideration.

One thing we quickly noticed as we reviewed the many models available from Amazon was the high praise the previous customers have for these electric leaf blowers in their reviews. Many of the models have over a hundred customer reviews of 4 or 5 stars. This is high praise indeed for a yard or garden tool.

Reviewing The Available Leaf Blowers Should Be Part Of Your Buying Research

Before making your choice of one of the many leaf blowers why not spend a little time reviewing the many models available and especially the customer reviews and comments found on Amazon. This information will help you make sure you choose the proper unit for your situation and budget.

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http://www.amazon.com/mn/search/?_encoding=UTF8&x=14&tag=potholecountr-20&linkCode=ur2&y=14&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-keywords=electric%20blower%20vacuums&url=search-alias%3Dgarden#/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=garden” target=”_blank”>Click Here to began your electric blower research.

Is A Gas Leaf Blower Right For You?

Nature Will Help You To Compost Leaves

One of natures greatest gifts to the homeowner/gardener is the ability to use natural processes to compost leaves. This process can be achieved in many ways and is one of the best ways to help the planet stay green and free land fills from unnecessary waste. In most communities now it may not be possible to safely burn autumn leaves from a pile in your backyard.

It sometimes seems strange to watch a homeowner take the time and trouble to prepare plastic bottles and cans and other household waste for recycling while blindly filling bag after bag with the most recyclable material, those pesky fallen and sometimes even shredded leaves, and place them at the curb for pick up and delivery to the local landfill.

Certainly those cans and plastic bottles will see further use once they are recycled but in order to reach a finished product they must first be made ready to recycle. That means removing labels and making sure they are clean. This uses labor and resources such as tap water. Then they must be either transported to a recycle drop off or if the community provides the service picked up at the curb.

While this is certainly a worthwhile effort compare this to the simple resource saving process necessary to compost leaves. Once they are collected the leaves can be easily moved to a compost pile on the homeowners’ property. Properly done this process is not unsightly and will not cause odors or other problems. The finished product can be ready for use in the garden or on the lawn in most cases by the following season.

How To Compost Leaves

Getting ready to compost your leaves can be as simple as digging a hole in some out of the way spot, filling it with leaves and covering the pile. For the more serious composter the pile can be layered with a little kitchen and garden waste to enrich the finished product with nitrogen and increase the composting rate then watered if need be.

Various compost bins and specialized composters such as a compost tumbler are available to aid the serious gardener in producing some serious potting soil. If you have a leaf mulcher, garden vacuum or mower that shredder the leaves they will compost even faster. Grass clippings and other organic matter can also be added to the compost bin or pile to further reduce waste and produce a better finished product.

While natural composting is a very simple process for the serious gardener a little research into the process which in effect is a combination of art and science can produce much satisfaction when he or she realizes how a little effort to compost leaves has helped to save resources and labor which are burdens for the community and turned a useless waste material like autumn leaves into a product from the compost pile that will next season help produce a rich bounty from the garden.

Taking the time to compost leaves is a win win situation for you and for the planet.

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Gas Leaf Blower. Plenty Of Power In A Compact Package.

If you have ever paid attention to those trailers being pulled by lawn maintenance crews you will almost always notice that they have two or more gas leaf blower or maybe even one or two of the more versatile gas leaf blower vacuums as as part of their equipment. There is good reason for this. Lawn maintenance is a competitive field and in order to be profitable these companies must produce quality work which includes the removal of grass clippings and fallen leaves.

Cleaning debris from driveways, sidewalks patios and other areas can be one of the most labor intensive tasks involved with lawn maintenance so these crews need everything available to get this job done quickly and efficiently. The tool that does this best is the leaf blower and the most used type is the gas leaf blower. and on production crews you will usually find the backpack leaf blowers being preferred.

While the gas models have many advantages over their electric cousins they do have some negatives. Professionals and home owners alike have been attracted to the gas leaf blowermainly to get away from the trouble of pulling an electric cord around the yard. While this electric cord may not be a great disadvantage to the homeowner with a small lot you can imagine how inconvenient it would be for a commercial crew working on lots that many times can extend to acreage. In some cases one of the newer cordless leaf blower models serve well while replacing the troublesome electric cord.

Gas Leaf Blower Or Electric? Which Do You Need?

However once the electric motor is replaced with a gasoline engine other considerations such as gas and oil and maintenance become important. This is not a serious inconvenience if proper fuel and oil containers are provided and filled on a regular basis. If minor maintenance such as changing the spark plug on a timely basis is performed than a gas engine should provide years of dependable service.

Weight is another consideration. Gas powered units will normally be heavier but this extra weight can be nicely handled if care is taken to purchase a good backpack model which can be worn comfortably while allowing easy access to the controls.

Be Sure To Wear Safety Gear When Using A Gas Leaf Blower

Noise will normally be louder with a gas unit but whether a gas or electric unit is used earplugs must always be worn to reduce the chance of hearing damage. Keep in mind that these are powerful units which will be blowing lots of tiny material around which makes goggles a necessity also. These safety items should be used with almost any garden or landscaping tools because of the potential for harm to the user.

An additional feature to look for when purchasing a blower is a variable speed control. This comes in very handy in many areas where the full available force of the unit may blow material where it is not wanted.

In conclusion it would seem that for the homeowner with a sizable lot and certainly for the professional lawn maintenance crew the best choice is the gas leaf blower.

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Leaf Mulcher

A yard vacuum can be  one of the best tools for removing leaves and leaf clutter from your lawn and backyard garden while reducing the labor needed for lawn and yard care. However there are some things you  should look for before investing in these power machines. Because they are robust heavy machines they are among the most expensive tools for picking up leaves and that means they are naturally the most expensive products.

Trouble Free Yard Vacuum

The proper machine will offer years of trouble free service which will mean a good payback for the investment. Just be sure to consider the following before making a purchase decision.

First as already stated a yard vacuum can be a big heavy machine. With motors in the 6 hp range these units can easily tip the scales at 150 pounds or more. This weight can be a detriment if the operator is not hefty enough to push the machine around the lawn especially as the bag gets loaded. Because of this it is a good idea to consider a self propelled model especially if you have a large lot or acres and complex landscapes to clean.

A Good Yard Vacuum Will Include Axle Bearings

It is especially important to make sure the axles and wheels on the yard vacuum have either bushings or even better bearings. In an inexpensive model the axles might be supported only through a hole in sheet metal which can soon wear and elongate allowing the machine to wobble when used. In most top selling vacuum machines bearings are standard.

Because of the nature of the material you will be vacuuming there is always the possibility of a clog somewhere in the vac system Try to determine if reaching any clogs will be a simple matter of undoing a couple of snaps or fasteners and not being faced with the necessity of using tools to remove access panels. If the model has a vacuum hose these can be very prone to clogs and should be easily disconnected to access and clear the problem yard vac system.

If the yard vacuum uses replaceable bags you need to consider the cost of these items. A little research can help you t learn more and could reveal some defects while not critical to the operation will be a nuisance to the operator. If the machine produces excessive dust or if the controls are difficult to reach or manipulate this can be tiresome. A few minutes talking with a local pro landscape maintenance person could give you some insite  about what the professionals are using.

Choose A Yard Vacuum For the One Who Will Operate It

Some owners of various models have complained about the difficulty of pulling the starter cord. Because of the heavy construction and large motors it would be a good idea to consider who will be operating the machine and try to pick a model that is not hard to start.

With any model including chipper shredder vacuum types some consideration should be given to the area to be vacuumed. Using these machines on a gravel driveway or any area where stones may be sucked into the machine should be avoided. Stones or other metal bolts or any heavy object could damage interior parts. In questionable areas it would be better to use a leaf blower or rake to move the leaves onto the lawn before vacuuming.

A well built machine will be a welcome tool during leaf pickup season. The investment can save lots of wear and tear on the homeowner. If you do a little research before making a purchase and keep up the needed maintenance a yard vacuum  will serve you well for many of your lawn & yard or lawn & garden chores.

One final note of caution. When operating any mechanical lawn or garden tool always wear safety glasses or goggles and hearing protection is absolutely a must even when using tools such as compact tractors of even lawn mowers where it is easy to become careless and forget to wear proper protection.

Compost Those Leaves

These particular custom machines are described as either gas or electric leaf mulcher, leaf shredders, or leaf mulcher/shredder/chipper. The terminology can be a little confusing because not all of the products accomplish all that these names imply. The basic electric leaf shredder is a light duty machine designed to shread leaves. When working well these little machines can turn 9 or 10 bags into one bag of shredded leaves in a fairly short time.

Electric Leaf Mulchers Are Popular Tools

Some owners argue that anelectric leaf mulcher is in effect a leaf shredder and the term mulcher does not apply based on the end product they produce. Actually these machines when properly used are well liked by most owners with a few complaints of issues that range for a nuisance to shabby product design and construction. Even the harshest critic though seems to always mention that they like the machines and would only use more care when making their next purchase.

These machines effectively do the job they were designed for which is to shread or mulch leaves and with some models even chip limbs and twigs up to about 1 1/2 in diameter according to manufacturers. As with any yard implement that you expect to serve you well for a number of years a little research will go a long way in helping to make a quality purchase. Here are some important items that you show look for in a garden or leaf mulcher/shredder.

Low Maintenance Electric Leaf Mulcher

First these machines as advertised are run by electric motors. Many home owners choose an electric leaf mulcher just for that reason. Their hope is that the machines will require less maintenance, do not require fuel and oil and will run quieter than a gasoline engine. This seems to be the first complaint of most owners. They were not prepared for the noise level that some models with electric power produce. The noise in the case of these electrical driven units is not produced by the motors but rather by the internal machinery and blades.

Another issue is the amount of dust some models develop. Operators should always wear at least a dust mask or maybe even a respirator. Googles and ear plugs should always be worn. Eye damage can occur from dust and small particles thrown about and noise will surely damage hearing over time. However these precautions are only common sense when operating any machinery and should not be considered an obstacle to convenience these machines provide.

Electric Leaf Mulcher Assembly Instructions Cause Concern

Among the complaints about shoddy construction people found the following, weak base stands or being unstable on ground that is not perfectly flat. Assembly instructions seem to be less than adequate in some cases. Many of these machines use the same material that string trimmers use. These will wear and in some case it is somewhat difficult to get access to replace them. Some customers find the most useful operation is achieved by changing the strings after each full bag of shredded leaves is complete. This makes easy access a much desired feature.

Almost every owner of an electric leaf shredder stresses that only dry leaves should be shredded. Wet or damp leaves can quickly clog the machine. Some machines tended to clog easily and tended to clog every open space available. Unless your machine is designed to chip limbs and twigs many customer reviews mention that care should be taken to keep any thing but leaves out of the hopper as even some small twigs can quickly wear the strings.

Some models use metal blades which hold up much longer. However they will from time to time need sharpening or replacement. People found the following helpful. While it is fairly easy to sharpen these blades they are glad that their unit came with a spare set of blades because they can be expensive.

Other customers find that using care when feeding leaves in the machines so as not to overload them is the bst practice. Most owners admonish that the most important thing to remember is to consider what these machines are designed to do and to not overload them. as with any leaf mulcher or other yard maintenance tool it would appear that price is a governing factor in the quality and ability of these machines. Units with larger electric motors in the 14 or 15 amp models of course will handle more material faster and more efficiently than the smaller 13 amp electric leaf machines.

The important thing to take away from this discussion is that the electric leaf mulcher is a handy and useful tool that is well liked and seems up to the job if you just take a little time to research the features available and read the most helpful reviews and do not depend only on the manufacturers claims.

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Gas Powered Blower Vacuum

The Lawn Vacuum Is A Labor Saver

Why is the lawn vacuum becoming more popular? In the annual struggle with the chore of picking up and ridding property of those pesky leaves, many home owners who have spent countless years raking and bagging by hand have decided it is time to look for some method that reduces the labor.

As age takes it toll on those homeowners they are no longer interested in hand held devices such as backpack model leaf vacuums and blowers. While those devices certainly have their place and serve well, they still require a certain amount of physical labor to work effectively. On the other hand the true lawn vacuum is actually a wheeled device that is either self propelled, pushed, or pulled behind a lawn tractor and require much less physical labor.

The first type resembles a large carpet sweeper. It is either pushed or self propelled while a gasoline engine or electric motor provides the power. In today’s environmentally conscious society many home owners opt for the electric models not only for their zero carbon footprint but also for the convenience. While these electric models will require a substantial electric cord they free the operator from the tasks of storing and using gasoline and oil.

Some Homeowners Prefer The Electric Lawn Vacuum

One popular electric model lawsn vacuum is the Greenworks 26262 16-Inch 14 Amp Electric Lawn Vacuum With Single Lever Height Adjust. The manufacturer lists the following features.

* Vacuums up dry leaves and yard debris and mulches it into usable compost
* Intended for use on dry material only
* 6-position single lever height adjust lever
* Cord lock prevents cord from disconnecting
* 16-inch vacuuming path makes leaf clean-up simple and easy

While the manufacturer stresses that this lawn vacuum is designed for picking up dry leaves several owners have made comments to the effect that even though they had to go over some spots a couple of times, the machine did a very nice job on wet leaves. They were also happy to find that the machine shredded the leaves which allowed them to use only one third of the leaf bags normally used to dispose of the leaves.

An additional feature of the above machine is its four year warranty. Two year warranties are more common.

Those home owners with large lots and lots of leaf bearing trees or those that shed nuts and or pine needles might need a more robust and aggressive gasoline powered lawn vacuum. The Troy-Bilt 24A-204B766 CSV 206 24-Inch 206cc Gas-Powered 3-in-1 Self Propelled Chipper/Shredder/Vacuum  is a large machine with a 24″ wide vacuum head. Its 6.5 horse power motor gives it power to not only pick up lots of leaves but also allows it to fully shred leaves and chip branches and twigs.

Several owners were pleased with its ability to pick up walnuts and acorns in a single pass but did complain about the units tendency to be hard to crank. It’s design apparently takes a fairly strong pull to start the engine.

One other criticism is the tendency of the motorized unit to pull to the side as it moves over the lawn. However the same owners remarked how well the unit chipped branches up to 2″ in diameter. As mentioned above this is a robust machine meant for those large lots and will tackle tasks not possible with its lighter smaller cousins.

No review of lawn sweepers would be complete without mention of pull behind models meant to be used behind a lawn tractor or riding mower. These units of course are in a higher price range but their convenience and ease of use makes them popular with those who have the tractor or large riding mower that will pull them.

The Swisher LV87537 2-in-1 8.75 Gross Torque Lawn Vacuum and Dump Wagon is an example of such a machine. One owner expressed his surprise at the 430 pound shipping weight but discovered the reason was the extreme heavy material and solid construction. This is a year around machine which will pick up grass clippings and small twigs. While it does not seem to do as well on heavy leaf accumulations several owners were still pleased with the product but did have some problems when originally making the connection to their mowers.

The last type of sweeper is a light duty push lawn sweeper that is designed to pick up leaves and other debris such as trash on driveways and patios. The Yardwise 136300YW 25-Inch Sweep It Push Yard Sweeper only picks up leaves with its rotating brushes and does not mulch or shred them. While it received a few positive comments about its ability to pick up light trash and small leaves it did not appear to perform well at the task of sweeping large or heavy leaves.

This unit might do well as a low priced light duty sweeper for use year around. Owners were not well pleased with its construction but did consider its price range and felt if it was used for light duty jobs it could earn its keep.

Do Your Research Before Choosing A Lawn Vacuum

A comparison of available lawn vacuums only reinforces the importance of spending a little time researching what each model is designed to do and paying some attention to owner comments to make sure your choice is right for your property and budget.

Greenworks 26262 16-Inch 14 Amp Electric Lawn Vacuum With Single Lever Height Adjust

Leaf Mulcher

A Good Gas Blower Will Serve Year Around

More and more every year the leaf rake is placed into retirement and replaced with a powerful hand held gas blower that will easily move enormous amounts of leaves into piles where they can be easily picked up and discarded. The gas blower becomes more popular every season and is held in high esteem with most owners. However there are some features that most owner’s consider necessary and through years of working with these tools they have developed some techniques to gain maximum value from their use.

Homeowners choose the gas blower to eliminate the trouble of dragging an extension cord around the yard. While the gas engine models produce more noise than the electric version this is not considered a problem because ear protection should always be worn with any type of powered garden tool. Models with good sized gas engines in the 31-cubic-centimeter range are highly praised for the ability to both blow and in some models vacuum wet leaves. Wet leaves can be a major problem for some garden tools including mulchers and leaf vacuums but a powerful blower vacuum will handle this chore well according to a number of owners.

There are a few complaints about the engines being hard to start with the pull starter but some models have eased this problem with a spring assisted pull cord system. A gas blower with this and other features can be easily found with just a few minutes of research in the owner’s review section.

These units seem to perform best for small to medium sized yards. Many owners praise gas blower vacuum units that have leaf bags that can be emptied without removal from the machine. A simple zipper system makes this an easy task. These machines reduce the bulk of vacuumed leaves by about a 10 to 1 ratio. Although some owners feel that a larger bag would be convenient to reduce the time necessary to stop and empty the bag, they do admit that larger bags full of wet leaves would add considerable weight to the hand held machines.

You May Wat A Gas Blower With A Built In Vacuum

The feature that is most valued according to owner’s reviews is the ability to switch from blower to vacuum with the flip of a lever. There were many complaints from owners who own or have used models that do not switch easily and this becomes a tiresome issue after long use. This is a feature that should be sought out if you plan on using your machine frequently.

A very important feature to search for is the ability to remove the pickup tube if it clogs without the use of specialized tools such as tork screw drivers. There are few complaints about these tools clogging but when they do a simple method of removing the vacuum tube is appreciated.

For very small areas owners suggest vacuuming the leaves from the lawn where thy lie. For larger areas it seems to be more convenient to blow the leaves into piles, flip over to vacuum mode and vacuum up the piles.

Keep Your Gas Blower Handy For Every Season

Don’t hide your gas blower away during seasons when there are not leaves to pick up. These units can be used year around to clear driveways, blow grass clipping from walkways and other areas and are really great for cleaning patios. All in all most owners report that they would never go back to the old rake but do advise doing a little research to find just the right blower vacuum for your yard.

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Yard Vacuum

Flowers in your yard and around your home create a beautiful colorful atmosphere to your landscape.
They can be arranged in flower beds or in border plantings. These include varieties of both annuals
and perennials.

Perennials In the Back Yard Garden

Perennials are flowers that come up every year from the same roots. Some of these flowers grow for two years and then they can reseed themselves. They grow throughout the summer and fall and prefer a half day of sun. Many perennials are adapted to certain conditions including shady spots, moist locations, hill tops and even water gardens. Perennials blend into border plantings where shrubs are the main focus. Tall flowers can be planted behind low shrubs, short ones in front of taller shrubs and in between shrubs. This provides color and brightness to the normally
green border plantings.

Some perennials that might work for you may include chrysanthemums, foxgloves, day lilies, irises, peonies and violets.

Annuals In the Back Yard Garden

Annuals are flowers usually grown from seed which is planted every spring. They blossom during the summer and fall and die in the frosts of the year. Replanting annuals every spring provides the opportunity to change your color arrangement and plant different choices every year. They also work well in window boxes and porch flower pots.

A few easy to care for favorite annuals are petunias,geraniums, impatiens and alyssum which are low to medium height plants. Taller varieties include sunflowers, cosmos, salvia and zinnas.

Arrangement of a Back Yard Flower Garden

Perennials may be better suited to borders while annuals work best in flower beds. To create the
effect desire, it may be wise to interlace both types of flowers to provide a colorful display during the
growing season. Perennials have a definite period of flowering, while annuals generally flower continuously.

Another group of flowering plants are grown from bulbs and tubers. Some bulbs can remain in the ground all year and come up in the spring. They are planted in the fall and include tulips, crocuses, daffodils and hyacinths. Some tubers must be dug up in the fall and replanted in the spring. These include begonias, dahlias, gladiolas and canna.

No garden is complete without roses and they deserve a spot of their own in your back yard flower garden. There are many varieties of rose bushes and they come in a wide range of colors. Roses require special care and need to be pruned every year. Spring pruning is necessary for continuous blooming and large blossoms. They also need to be protected from diseases and in-
sects. Even with the special care required, they are high on the list of “must-have” plants.

After all of your hard work and endeavors, you will be able to walk through a beautiful, colorful and peaceful back yard flower garden you have created yourself.

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Working with soil and plants can inspire the inner human spirit. Gardening helps relieve the stresses of every day life and provides a natural inner peace. It leads to a healthier and more satisfying life style.

So turn off the cell phones, computers and television sets and begin a new partnership with nature. The size or shape of your garden does not matter. It need not be a square or rectangle in one certain part of the yard. Various vegetables and flowers can be placed in different parts of the yard depending on their sizes and the special conditions they need to thrive and the color
schemes you desire to create a pleasant atmosphere, A small herb garden near the house gives easy access for all of your cooking needs everyday.

This could turn into a fun project for the whole family to participate in together. Everyone can help turn over the soil, and rake the ground and choose their own favorite vegetable and flower seeds. When it is time for the actual planting, watering, fertilizing, and even weeding to begin, it can be an enjoyable labor of love for all.

Each family member has an opportunity to express their personal choice of vegetables, flowers and color schemes. This way each one has their special say in the total project. Patience will be required now! It takes time for the plants to mature and ripen, and younger members will be anxious to see results quickly.

During the growing season each one can take turns to water the garden, fertilize it, and pull weeds. This will help time to pass and everyone will know they are all working together to achieve their goal.

When the garden is finally harvested, and the produce is placed on the dinner table or on a table in the front yard near the street to sell, a great satisfaction willbe felt by all. With every delicious taste and every dollar collected, each one will be proud of the part they played in the successful endeavor they accomplished together.

A back yard filled with delicious produce, beautiful flowers and a colorful atmosphere will brighten the area and bring contentment to the spirit of all worked so hard.

Small-Plot, High-Yield Gardening: How to Grow Like a Pro, Save Money, and Eat Well by Turning Your Back (or Front or Side) Yard Into An Organic Produce Garden