Garden Leaf Sweepers for Lawns, Paths and Borders - Which One for Your Garden?

!±8± Garden Leaf Sweepers for Lawns, Paths and Borders - Which One for Your Garden?

Why remove leaves from the lawn?

Although heaps of crispy leaves are lovely to scuffle through when out for a walk, they are less welcome on the lawn.

Why? Because the grass suffers and may even die if the layers of leaves are not removed. A dense smothering blanket of leaves blocks the light and air, especially once the leaves become sodden with rain.

What to do with the leaves?

Fortunately, the chore of leaf sweeping is well worth the effort for the resultant leaf mould.

Just bag up the leaves, or pile them up within a wire netting enclosure (jump up and down on them to make more space), and two years later you'll have dark crumbly leaf mould for mulching around plants and improving the soil -- all for free.

What are the best tools for clearing up leaves?

A rotary mower

If your mower is a rotary with a grassbag, then you can easily use this to vacuum up leaves. They'll be chopped up by the blades too, to aid composting. However, if the ground is soft, you can end up making quite a mess.

Hand tools

If you only have a small garden, then a sweeping brush for the hard surfaces and a rake for the lawn should be sufficient.

Choose your rake carefully. The ideal leaf rake shouldn't dig into the lawn like a scarifying rake, but instead glide over the surface, containing the leaves within its curved shape so that you can gradually accumulate a heap. Most hand tool companies include these in their range -- choose tough wire or rubbery tines for longevity and expect to pay from around £15.

Then comes the problem of transferring the leaves to barrow or bag. The traditional two boards are fine for moving wodges of leaves, but if you don't like bending, a long-handled leaf grab (with plastic or metal blades from around £13-20) may suit you better.

Mechanical sweepers

A mechanical lawn sweeper collects leaves and other debris, so is a good choice for large lawns. As you push the sweeper along, its wide brush whirls the leaves off the lawn and into the collector. The working height is adjustable for use on paving or lawns, but don't be tempted to use one on gravel, because the brush picks this up and throws it facewards. For this reason, goggles are a sensible precaution if there's any chance of grit, stones or other small projectiles (eg acorns) lying on the lawn.

Sweepers are usually around 60cm or more wide (from around £100), but not widely stocked due to limited demand. There are also towable versions to go behind your garden tractor or ride-on. Look for both types on one of the online garden equipment sites.

A garden vacuum or blower

A much noisier but easier method of clearing lawns is to use a powered blower, garden vac, or both.

Battery, mains or petrol-engined hand-held blowers (to take the weight, most have a shoulder strap; some have wheels on the nozzle) and 4-wheeled blowers (from around £80) are useful for clearing large lawns and paving in broad sweeps, driving the leaves into a heap which is simple but time-consuming to move with a leaf grab.

It's speedier to suck up the leaf pile with a garden vacuum. The vacuuming process shreds the leaves a little, so they take up less space and rot down faster than whole leaves. Some blowers convert to vacuums, saving you the expense of buying two machines, but find out how easy it is to convert from one mode to another. Some have to have to be partly dismantled and reassembled, but Flymo's Gardenvac, for example, is simple to switch modes with a lever. Hand-held petrol-engined blower/vacs cost from around £90 and are made by a number of companies, which you'll see if you go to one of the online garden equipment web sites.

If contemplating clearing very large areas of lawn and other flat surfaces, then a wheeled leaf and litter vac is much easier to use. You might track down a mains electric version, but petrol-engined machines are more common and widely available from groundsman's suppliers and online (costing from around £450). Most have an optional extra wander hose (from around £100) for beds and borders inaccessible to the machine.

Useful links for sweepers and blowers

Copyright (c) Val & Alec Scaresbrook

Garden Leaf Sweepers for Lawns, Paths and Borders - Which One for Your Garden?

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Easy Ways to Make Your Yard Beautiful

!±8± Easy Ways to Make Your Yard Beautiful

The appearance of your yard certainly makes a big difference as it boosts the overall standing of your property as well. Poorly maintained yards can make your home, no matter how big and beautiful it is, less attractive. However, yard maintenance can be easy. All you have to do is keep your yard looking pretty, inviting, and clean to make sure you give off the right impression to your visitors.

Of course, there are certain factors that you have to contend with such as litter, weed, fallen leaves, rotting plants, and overturned flower pots. They make your yard undesirable and unpleasant to look at. While negligence and weather can make your yard look less perfect, there are also tons of ways in which you can maintain your yard in great shape. Surely, you can create a yard that looks incredible most of the time by proper maintenance and having replacements.

Tall grass can make your property look like a jungle. Mow your lawn to make it beautiful and clean. You can mow on a weekly basis and make sure not to hurt your grass too often as they are likely to erode when rain splashes on them. For optimum results, controlling the growth of weeds is also ideal. A variety of weeds such a crabgrass or dandelions can cover the space of your yard which can kill off its appearance. It is a good idea to use some kind of herbicide to eliminate weeds, excluding the grass. Ensure that you stay clear of harmful formulas that could not only kill your weeds but affect the grass and plants as well.

A nasty yard is a no-no when it comes to having your visitors drop by. Rake up the fallen leaves, clean up the trash that clutters your walkways, and trim unkempt shrubbery. Tree brambles and branches should be moved out of the way. Cordless leaf blowers and vacuums will also greatly enhance the form of your yard, making it look ideal for guests to regularly come by.

Trees are also great additions to a yard. It creates that natural feel and makes it greener. The color green emanates an atmosphere of invigoration and calmness so make sure you scatter trees and plants in your yard. Flowers in decorative flower pots also boost the color of your yard. There are many flower varieties that you can choose from to beautify the appearance of your yard. Flowers even improve the smell of a yard whenever they are in bloom and are subtle decorations. Make sure to water them regularly to prevent them from wilting due to weather and the elements.

Furniture pieces such as tables and chairs, hedges, statues, and porch props enhance the general look of your yard as well. You can even install water fountains and place them at the center of your yard.

Indeed, a well kept yard makes your property loon even better than it already is. Especially if you are on the brink of selling your home, a clean, beautiful yard considerably boosts the curb appeal of your property. A welcoming and attractive yard is always a superb thing to have. You will come home satisfied that your yard looks clean and green.

Easy Ways to Make Your Yard Beautiful

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Post California Wildfire Ash - What You Need to Know About Cleaning Up

!±8± Post California Wildfire Ash - What You Need to Know About Cleaning Up

After big fires like those in California in October of 2007, folks need to know what to do about the huge quantities of ash both outdoors and ash that has gotten indoors. Some ash is toxic, but most that comes from burnt brush is relatively harmless and is similar to the ask in a BBQ, fire place or campfire. All ash will contain some cancer-causing toxins.

Most ash does cause irritation to eyes and skin, if you are sensitive. For those with asthma it can trigger asthma attacks and therefore you if this is an issue you should avoid it. The Online Think Tank recommends to wash the off ash with water, hosing it down. Do not sweep it or use an air-blower. Shop vacuums are not very affective with removing ash, and although such a solution is tempting, it is ill-advised.

It is also recommended to wear a dust mouth-cover, full covering clothing and either sunglasses or goggles if you are going to get in close to blast it with a pressure washer or high PSI garden hose nozzle. If you are going to do sweeping plus hosing, do the sweeping very lightly to reduce putting too much dust in the air. Try to not hose the ask into storm drains, creeks or run-off areas, as it will go directly into the environment.

When hosing down, the purpose is not to flood it out, rather to prevent ash and dust particles. Use as little water as possible and then put the ash into plastic bags and throw it out. If the ash is from a structure, it can be very toxic and must more serious, so consult someone about this, older buildings may have asbestos or other building materials that are very toxic when burned. I hope this article helps you and good luck on your clean-up. Sincerely, Lance.

Post California Wildfire Ash - What You Need to Know About Cleaning Up

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Power Brooms - Choosing The Right Power Broom For Your Commercial Cleaning Business

!±8± Power Brooms - Choosing The Right Power Broom For Your Commercial Cleaning Business

When you have to clean a wider surface such as a park, a function room or a whole building, the traditional broom simply would not do. You're going to need a heavy-duty power broom to do the job for you. Power brooms are electrically powered and are designed to sweep debris off the floors for more thorough cleanups. They are motorized so it's faster for you to clean up a whole room with them.

Types of brooms

There are two main types of power brooms: the stick vacuum and the power broom tractor. The first one is used for hardwood floors, indoor cleaning and for bare floor cleaning. It is not suitable for outdoor jobs because it has poor suction power. This is why you can't use it for carpets either or to replace your conventional vacuum cleaner.

On the other hand, the tractor is used for outdoor cleaning as it can removed various types of debris including fallen leaves, dirt, gravel and thatch along the surface. You drive it like a tractor, only it is smaller and lighter than a conventional one. The broom tractor comes with controls so you can adjust the broom's rotation and the direction it takes. It also has detachable nylon bristles that you can easily change when worn out.

Buying tips

When shopping around for power brooms, you want to look for a model that has a corner-less frame so you can easily clean curbs and corners. It is also a good idea to go for a brand that you come with available spare parts so you can replace the bristles once they are worn out. Commercial cleaning will warrant heavy-duty brooms so you need to have spare supplies handy every time.

Power Brooms - Choosing The Right Power Broom For Your Commercial Cleaning Business

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Toro 51599 Ultra 12 amp Variable-Speed Electric Blower/Vacuum with Metal Impeller

!±8± Toro 51599 Ultra 12 amp Variable-Speed Electric Blower/Vacuum with Metal Impeller

hubpages.com Powerful and effective, the Toro Ultra 3-in-1 Blower, Vacuum, and Leaf Shredder makes completing yard work fun and easy. With air speeds up to 235 mph, this electric blower nevertheless is lighter, quieter, and cleaner than similar gas blowers. And with a sleek, ergonomical design, it's a tool that is easy to use and will grab your neighbors' attention.

Toro 51599 Ultra 12 amp Variable-Speed Electric Blower/Vacuum with Metal Impeller

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Finding the Best Garden Blower Vac

!±8± Finding the Best Garden Blower Vac

Why should you choose a garden blower vac instead of a regular leaf blower? Cleaning up the yard can be a tiring and take up a lot of time, particularly when the leaves begin to fall. Raking or using a conventional leaf blower can take a long time, while a garden blower vac can make things a lot easier. But which one should you get, and is it really worth it? Let's take a look at some of the benefits of a good leaf blower vacuum and how to buy the right one.

Leaf vacuums work a lot like indoor vacuums, but they have a lot more power and are more specialized. They help remove all debris and dead leaves, collecting them into just one container. After you're done, you can empty the container onto your compost pile and turn those dead leaves into garden fertilizer! This is an efficient and effective way of getting an attractive looking, clean garden that takes a lot less time than a rake or broom. While your garden blower vac will require power, the reduction in the amount of time required to clean your yard means it won't really use all that much. Jobs will get done faster and you'll have more time to move onto something else.

A garden blower vac is a particularly good idea for people who have disabilities or age related mobility problems. It can make the difference between having to rely on others to clean and maintain your garden and being able to do it yourself. That can be a big difference for many of us. Too many people assume that everyone is in good enough physical condition to do their own gardening, when many of us need to save up our time and energy for what is no longer a simple task. If you fall into this category, a leaf blower vacuum could be a real help.

Of course, you'll pay more for a garden blower vac than you would for a conventional leaf blower, and a great deal more than you would for a plain old rake. It all comes down to whether you value your time or the investment in the leaf blower more. If time is the biggest consideration, this is the machine for you, making automatic cleanup much easier than a conventional blower. Just suck the leaves up and dispose of them properly.

Make sure you buy a good leaf vacuum, of course. That means taking some time to look at all the options available on the market, and comparing not just their prices and features, but the reputation of each one. Take the time to check out a few garden blower reviews to find out if a particular model is known for problems or short lifespan. That'll help you decide which garden blower vac is right for your particular situation. Never just buy the cheapest model on the market - it's a sure way to lose money in the long run. A good leaf blower vacuum will serve you for many years to come and make your job a whole lot easier.

Finding the Best Garden Blower Vac

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