How to Choose the Best Leaf Blower for your Garden
When it comes to clearing away leaves and debris, there’s no better tool for the job than a leaf blower!
As we get close to autumn, many are preparing for the inevitable garden clean up that comes with it. By stocking up on the right tools ahead of time, you can save yourself a lot of hassle and possibly even get better discounts!
In this blog post we’re going to give you a comprehensive guide on everything you need to know when purchasing a leaf blower.
Vacuum Blowers vs Leaf Blowers
One of the first things to understand is whether you need a leaf blower or a vacuum blower.
Traditional leaf blowers expel air from a hose or barrel in order to disperse leaves and push them away from the machine. They are typically used for pushing and organizing plant debris into manageable piles, which can then be cleaned away.
Vacuum blowers utilize an additional vacuum function to suck up leaves and plant debris into a collection bag which is attached to the body of the machine. This helps you to avoid the tedious and time-consuming task of raking and bagging up the unwanted leaves!
DeWalt DCV100 XR 18V
Compact Jobsite Leaf Blower
Hyundai HYBV3000E 3-IN-1 Corded
Leaf Blower, Vacuum & Mulcher
Electric vs Petrol Blowers
Domestic leaf blowers typically run on either electricity (mains or battery power), or a 2- or 4- stroke petrol engine.
Your choice of power type should come down to several key factors:
- The size of your garden, or the surface area you’ll be working with
- The type of garden debris you need to clear
- The layout of your garden
Cordless Leaf Blowers
Cordless or battery powered leaf blowers are often the most popular choice for smaller jobs around the house and garden, such as clearing patios, decking, or gutters. Powered by interchangeable batteries, they usually provide enough power for a few hours of work. While this often isn’t suitable for larger jobs, their lightweight design and lack of cables means they are perfect for quickly maneuvering around small to medium sized gardens.
Corded Leaf Blowers
Corded or mains powered leaf blowers require a 230V mains supply to function, making them inherently more limiting than cordless versions. Essentially you’re limited by the length of the power cable, which can be restrictive with bigger gardens or areas with foliage where the cable might become stuck. It also raises safety concerns with the cable when there is adverse weather such as snow, rain, or extreme heat. Corded leaf blowers can however be cheaper than cordless versions, and often weigh less due to the lack of added battery.
Petrol Leaf Blowers
Petrol leaf blowers are heavy-duty, powerful machines that are usually preferred for commercial properties or very large gardens. Typically powered by a 2-stroke or 4-stroke petrol engine in the backpack or body of the machine, they are capable of providing consistently high levels of power over much longer sessions. They can easily deal with large volumes of leaves and garden debris, making them ideal for larger surface areas. While they are the most powerful leaf blowers around, they are also the loudest, require the most maintenance, and are heavier than electric leaf blowers.
Draper 32301 Petrol Vacuum/Blower
25.4cc
Black & Decker BEBLV301 3-in-1
Electric Leaf Blower 3000W 240V
Types of Leaf Blowers
Handheld blowers
Handheld leaf blowers are compact, lightweight by design, and versatile. Ideal for tackling smaller jobs such as cleaning porches, driveways, and patios, they are also great for small to medium sized lawns. Handheld blowers give you great flexibility and control even in tight spaces, as they are easy to use single handed. While they may struggle with large jobs, a handheld blower is usually perfect for most home users.
Backpack blowers
Backpack leaf blowers are the next step up from handheld blowers. More powerful, bulkier, and more cumbersome, they are able to run for much longer and therefore tackle bigger jobs. These blowers are worn like a backpack with the hose being held in one hand, which can often contribute to user fatigue and tiredness over longer sessions. For this reason they are often reserved for larger properties and commercial sites.
Walk-behind blowers
Walk-behind blowers are the most powerful, and least common leaf blowers. Usually reserved for the largest residential properties or commercial compounds, they are capable of blowing most kinds of garden debris over huge areas. These blowers are designed to last for years, with industrial components and often longer warranty periods. As expected however, these leaf blowers are usually much more expensive than backpack or handheld models, with additional costs associated with maintenance and energy bills.
Hyundai HYB5200 52cc 2-Stroke
Backpack Petrol Leaf Blower
Makita DUB185Z 18V LXT
Cordless Handheld Leaf Blower
Things to consider before choosing your leaf blower
As well as the obvious factors like cost, there are various other essential features which you should take into consideration when choosing your leaf blower.
Engine Power
One of the most prominent specifications you’ll see when browsing leaf blowers is engine power, as this essentially indicates how effectively it’s going to work! Engine power, specified in Watts (W), usually ranges from 2500 to 3000W. The higher the engine power, the better the tool!
If you’re going to be working with large gardens or for extended periods of time, you’re going to want to look for powerful leaf blowers on the higher end of this range; however if you have a small garden which can be finished quickly then you can save some money by going for a less powerful model.
Variable Speed Drive
Some vacuum blowers feature a variable speed drive which allows you to control either the suction power or the blowing power of the machine, which helps the tool work better across various environments. This can be especially useful for applications like dispersing gravel, moving heavier garden debris, or collecting large volumes of leaves.
Generally limited to two speeds, this will be measured either by CFM (cubic feet per minute), or MPH (miles per hour). CFM translates to the volume of air that the machine can output, while MPH translates to the speed at which the air is outputted.
While not all models have this, it may be worth looking out for this if you plan on using the leaf blower for many different applications.
Anti-vibration system
If you’re bothered about vibration affecting you when using a leaf blower, then you should look out for anti-vibration features. Long-term exposure to significant vibration from power tools can cause damage to the user’s hands and arms, so it’s important to try and avoid this if possible.
Many newer leaf blowers feature anti-vibration systems which work to eliminate the oscillations from the engine and in turn reduce the vibrations from the machine, which helps to make a safer and more comfortable experience.
Collection Bags
If you’re on the lookout for a vacuum blower, then a collection bag will be an essential accessory. Collection bags are attached to the rear of the machine and are used to store all of the collected leaves and garden debris. They are available in a range of sizes for a variety of different garden sizes and applications.
If you’re only using the leaf blower on a small garden, then you won’t need a huge collection bag – a 30-50L bag will do the job. For much larger surface areas however, you might want a bigger collection bag.
Attachable nozzles
Often leaf blowers come with a range of different removeable nozzles which can be used to direct or concentrate the air flow. Generally the narrower the end of the nozzle is, the more powerful the air flow will be.
One of the most important attachments for a leaf blower is the gutter attachment. This handy piece of kit is essentially a tube with an elbow joint which extends up and bends around to the shape of a gutter, so you can clear out leaves and debris from ground level.
If you have any questions about our range of leaf blowers or just need some help, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly customer service team on 01358 726719 or at admin@toolden.co.uk.