Anyone tried using a leaf blower/vacuum in their garden?

[Hector]

We have a problem with leaves and bits falling from pepper trees which then mixes in with gravel in the garden. Difficult to rake up without taking all the gravel with it. Anyone tried using a garden blower vacuum on this or similar?

[Keithcaley]

I've used one.

On a hard surface, the recommendation is to BLOW the leaves into a corner, and then change to VAC and suck up the resulting pile.

I did find that when using this technique on gravel / pebbles, you do get a lot of gravel flying about, which can be dangerous, so it's safer to have the machine set to VAC, and adjust the suction so that it will lift the leaves, but leave the stones behind - quite tricky!

It's also rather time-consuming, trying to suck up individual / clumps of leaves...

I don't think that there is a perfect solution to this one!

[erol]

We recently got a blower (only blower - no suction) and I find it useful if the objective is to move stuff rather than 'collect it'. That is we blow off the patio areas into the garden.

I suspect that the main benefit of the blower, at least as far as my partner is concerned, is that 'encouraging' me to pick up a broom and sweep is an uphill task compared to encouraging me to 'play' with the 36volt cordless blower gun / toy.

[waddo]

I had the same problem with my pepper trees/gravel. Tried the leaf blower/sucker method and then gave it away as a bad job. Bought a leaf rake - that is the one with the thin springy tines that you can adjust the gap between them! It kind of works but then you still end up with a pile of gravel you have to re-throw back down again. Cured the situation at the back of the house by cutting down the pepper tree - the front of the house remains a problem to be solved and have tried all sorts of crawling around on hands and knees with a soft brush, picking up the peppers (not advised because they will make you sneeze a lot) and wafting them along with a hand held bar-b-que wafter thing. Nothing is 100 percent successful but if I was you then I would not bother spending the dosh on a leaf blower that you will end up cursing at and chucking over the fence!!! If you do find a good solution I would love to know.

[PapaBravo]

Well, I think they are excellent gadgets for collecting leaves on my gravel and I do not find them difficult to use.

Why not borrow one from a friend to 'try before you buy'?

Set the machine to 'Blow' on high power and blow the leaves into piles. From the piles, pick up what you can easily lift by hand. Next, turn the machine to 'Vacuum' and turn the power down (experiment to find a level that sucks leaves but not gravel) and hoover up what is left.

I would not be without mine, which has separate tubes for sucking and blowing. It came from Leroy Merlin in the south.

[Bloss]

We bought ours from Izzy's shop (opposite Hosbes supermarket) Garden is all gravel and it works a treat Only use it on vac mode. Yes its hard work but well worth the effort Wouldn't be without ours

[brian24001]

Use one all the time.
Don't try to blow/suck wet leaves.
Blow them to a collecting point/garden corner.
Easier then to pick up into a gardening bag than tp vacuum the majority.
Vacuum up the last bits.
Usually 4-5 stones find their way up the suction tube over the whole operation, shut off and let them fall out.
Quick and easy.

[meldy]

I agree with Brian, use the same method and find it an easy way to get the dry leaves up. Have not had a problem with stones blowing up. Keep the end of the vac up a bit from the ground and it will blow the leaves into a pile no problem.

[waddo]

There is one for sale on the "Sales" page of the forum - funny old thing!!!!

[Hector]

Thanks everyone for your advice. Appreciated.