vacuum leaf collection systems

[delmonteman]

Are these the real deal or should I just stick to the traditional rake?

[woofgang]

depends. My fasther in law has one and loves it, but he has a small leaf problem in a dry part of the country. I live in hampshire in a tree and shrub packed garden surrounded by trees and I find that I only want a blower to clear the leaves off my lawn and onto the flowerbeds and under the trees where they 1. smother weeds and 2 break down to improve the soil. Because we have wet winters and are sheltered from the wind, the leaves mostly stay put. either way its worth going for something lightweight and I have a safety based preference for petrol driven. Baseline is how big is your garden and how leafy and why do you want to move the leaves and where to. PS leaf blowers also make excellent car and motorbike dryers

[mikewall01]

My house and garden are surrounded by large trees so I have a big fallen leaves problem each year.
My solution is to use an electric vacuum machine that contains a shredder. I put all the shredded leaves in black plastic bags and poke small holes in the bottom of the bags. I stack the bags outside until springtime by which time the contents will have rotted down and be ideal for garden compost.
If you don't shred the leaves they will take forever to rot.

[corrideo]

Hi. Probably both! The vac is really great for initial leaf drop, or mopping up at the end, especially when leaves are dry. BUT when they are wet, it's just too much hard work! I stick to a rake then. BTW depends a bit on type of leaf - we have rowans and ashes, and the stalks of those leaves fall back out of the vac and have to be picked up later, bit of a bind, whilst the other leaves get sucked up nicely. The vac can blow as well as suck, and you can round them up into nice groups first to speed things along. The chopped leaves take up MUCH less room in sacks, whether for collection or composting. Good luck!