Leaf Blower Buying Guide
September 29, 2022
When the autumn comes around and leaves are strewn every which way, your garden can be left looking a little messy – cue the trusty leaf blower.
But which type should you buy?
There are several features that might affect your decision, so read on and find out which blower is best for you.
Things to consider before you buy
• How big is your garden?
• Where will you use it?
• How much weight can you handle?
• Do you want a leaf blower, vacuum, mulcher or a combination?
Different types of leaf blowers
Cordless
If you want to clear your driveway, deck or small patio, a cordless leaf blower is ideal. When fully charged they usually last for around 15 minutes, giving you plenty of time for smaller jobs but not enough for anything on a larger scale. They’ll also give you the freedom to manoeuvre easily, so you can moving around without any wires getting in the way.
Top picks
Electric
Electric leaf blowers can tackle larger areas and are much less noisy than petrol blowers, so they’re a great choice if you live in a residential area. They also tend to be lightweight, making them easy to carry around the garden.
Top picks
Petrol
The most powerful and heavy-duty option, petrol leaf blowers are perfect for large gardens and commercial properties. Because they’re powerful, they’re usually heavier and noisier than others, so make sure you have ear defenders if you opt for one of these.
Top picks
Combi
If you want all your jobs done in one, invest in either a 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 leaf blower. As well as blowing your leaves into a pile, you can vacuum them up tidily and even mulch them. Mulching, or shredding, reduces the size of the leaves, which means you can keep going for longer without having to empty the bag as often. The higher the mulch ratio (usually shown as '10:1' or '3:1', for example), the more the leaves will be shredded, which means you can collect more in one go. The leaves will also break down more quickly this way, so it’s great if you’ll be throwing them on the compost pile when you’re done.
Top picks
Other features to look out for
Carry straps
Tackling large areas can be tiring work. Blowers with straps help you get the job done comfortably and carry on for longer.
Wheels
Some blowers even come with handy wheels for easy manoeuvrability.
Bag capacity
If it comes with a bag then bigger is best, so you don’t have to stop in the middle of your task to empty it.
Detachable parts
If it has a detachable blower tube it’ll be more compact in storage, allowing you to save space in your home or shed.
FAQS
What are leaf blowers used for?
Leaf blowers are used to clear leaves from gardens and pathways. They blow the leaves into a pile ready to be gathered and composted, and can also vacuum up and mulch them, depending on the model.
How does a leaf blower work?
A leaf blower works by blowing air through a chute to clear fallen leaves into a pile, or sucking air up the chute to vacuum them into an attached bag. Some blower vacuum models also have a mulching function which shreds the leaves into a smaller size so that the bag won’t fill up quite as fast, allowing you to keep vacuuming for longer.
How do you use a leaf blower vacuum?
Some leaf blowers are cordless, which means they need recharging, while others are powered with petrol, so will need refilling. Once charged or filled with fuel, they simply need to be turned on with push buttons, triggers or recoil motors, depending on the model. Then all you need to do is point the blower at the leaves you want to clear to either blow them into a neat pile or vacuum them up. Once the bag is full, it can be emptied onto a compost heap and you can start the process again.
