Your yard is something to be proud of, but it requires a lot of work to get there. You have to put in the hours making sure the soil is good, the grass is watered and cut to a decent level, and pulling weeds. Another part of the job is the cleanup, making sure all the pesky little bits of debris are out of sight and out of mind. When it comes to leaves, there are so many of them it just doesn’t make sense to get on your hands and knees and remove them one by one. Enter the leaf blower, that little machine that pushes them into one neat little corner, making your job infinitely easier. But did you know that there’s actually a process to follow when getting a leaf blower? Read on to find out what you need to know before getting one.
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Light-Duty Electric Leaf Blowers: For Basic, Small Jobs
Not everyone lives in an area where it thunderstorms leaves every time the wind whispers, and these are perfect for a light smattering of leaves. If all you need to do is blow a little bit of dirt or leaves from your deck or driveway, then this electric one — also known as a “corded broom” — is perfect for you. Plus, they have little motors, which only produce a little bit of noise.
Heavy-Duty Electric Leaf Blowers: For When the Job’s a Little Tougher
Say you want to do more than just tidy up your deck or driveway, like you want to actually move onto your lawn now. For that, pick up a heavy-duty electric blower and head straight for your grass. These have a bigger motor and are capable of moving more weight around, and you can plug it into an extension cord to make sure you get all areas of your lawn. And depending on the kind you get, you may just be able to turn it into a vacuum for your flowerbeds, too.
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Handheld Gas Leaf Blowers: A Little Bit of Freedom to Move Around
While one of the big advantages of an electric leaf blower is the lack of filling up a motor — which makes them quieter, too — their big downside is their reach. A gas leaf blower, on the other hand, lets you go wherever you want. They are quite a bit heavier than electric leaf blowers, but the 30cc or 40cc engine can do just that much more. Just remember to always have mixed gasoline on hand so you never run out.
Backpack Gas Leaf Blowers: Hands-Free and Ready to Roar
We’re finally onto the monsters of all leaf blowers, as these ones are so big and powerful, they’re best worn strapped to your back instead of lugged around in your hands. They can blow anything anywhere you want, so just remember to get one that has an air circulator and vibration-reducer on the back. You’ll also want to go upwards of 40cc to really maximize its potential.
