Leaf Blowers, question.

[Middydd]

Wonder what happened on my first try, thanks to the member who told me my query had blanked out.

I'm looking for a recommendation for a leaf blower for my patio. Should I go with electric, or rechargeable? Do they both work as well? Do the inexpensive models actually do the job?

We put in patio where our backyard lawn used to be and I've got all kinds of stray leaves, Mountain Ash berries and bits of debris everywhere on it.

[Curiosity Hears]

Have always wondered when I see people using leaf blowers, where are they blowing them to? Are they making a pile and picking it up??

Anyway, have you considered a lawn sweeper (http://www.cleanhouston.org/comments/river_oaks/alternatives.htm)

[Escher]

I got the very cheapest model at home depot 4 years ago, and it works just fine.

It's electric. Good for small/medium yards. If you have a large yard, you'll need gas.--louder, heavier, and more expensive, but no cord. Plus gas blowers increase our dependence on foreign oil. ;)

My community has curbside leaf pickup on trash days. So the day before, everyone blows leaves into the street, then the garbage guys suck it into a big bin with a vaccuum hose-type deal for composting.

[Gumbeaux]

I'm looking for a recommendation for a leaf blower for my patio. Should I go with electric, or rechargeable? Do they both work as well? Do the inexpensive models actually do the job?

Since you have a small area, I would get an electric. It will be a lot lighter, cheaper, and easier to use than a gasoline powered blower.

Blowers have a lot of uses. I use my electric to dry off the patio furniture after a rain shower so that I can sit on dry furniture. I also use it to dry off my truck after I wash it. It does a lot better job than a chamois cloth because you can blow water out of crevices like door handles, side mirrors, and other places that a cloth can't get to. Your car will be spot free using a blower. A lot of professional detailers do the same thing.


Have always wondered when I see people using leaf blowers, where are they blowing them to? Are they making a pile and picking it up??

I blow the stuff in the yard before I mow it so that the lawn mower will mulch it. Anything left over will go into the compost pile.

[Curiosity Hears]

Thanks Escher & Gumbeaux! I have secretly wondered this question for years.

[Middydd]

Have always wondered when I see people using leaf blowers, where are they blowing them to? Are they making a pile and picking it up??

Anyway, have you considered a lawn sweeper (http://www.cleanhouston.org/comments/river_oaks/alternatives.htm)

My patio is surrounded by flower beds so I'll just blow the bits into the gardens.

I saw one of those lawn sweepers at Home Depot the other day, it sounds like a good idea, thanks.

[Middydd]

Since you have a small area, I would get an electric. It will be a lot lighter, cheaper, and easier to use than a gasoline powered blower.

Blowers have a lot of uses. I use my electric to dry off the patio furniture after a rain shower so that I can sit on dry furniture. I also use it to dry off my truck after I wash it. It does a lot better job than a chamois cloth because you can blow water out of crevices like door handles, side mirrors, and other places that a cloth can't get to. Your car will be spot free using a blower. A lot of professional detailers do the same thing.




I blow the stuff in the yard before I mow it so that the lawn mower will mulch it. Anything left over will go into the compost pile.

Thanks for the suggestions!! I never would have thought of either use, but it would certainly come in handy to dry lawn furniture off if you give it a rinse before friends come over. We have problems with cobwebs, they don't bother me but I wash them off if we're having guests.

[Middydd]

I got the very cheapest model at home depot 4 years ago, and it works just fine.

It's electric. Good for small/medium yards. If you have a large yard, you'll need gas.--louder, heavier, and more expensive, but no cord. Plus gas blowers increase our dependence on foreign oil. ;)

My community has curbside leaf pickup on trash days. So the day before, everyone blows leaves into the street, then the garbage guys suck it into a big bin with a vaccuum hose-type deal for composting.


We sweep our leaves into the street for the vacuum truck, too. Thanks for the advice that the inexpensive blower model works well.