How to Choose a Powerful Leaf Blower for Your Garden

As much as autumn is an admirable season with its vivid colours and rich textures, it can also be a pain to deal with. This is particularly true if you’ve got a large garden to sweep up once the leaves start to fall. By the time you think you’re all done, and you can finally catch a break, a few of those little suckers decide to make a last-ditch effort at an encore. They’re clearly not giving up that easily, and neither should you.

Truth be told, you can beautify your garden with chic accessories all you want but if you don’t take proper care of it, it all goes to waste. Sure enough, the idea of spending hours on end raking leaves is certainly not a very pleasant one but there’s an easy way to go about it. All you have to do is select a new leaf blower and make cleaning your yard a breeze.

How Are Leaf Blowers Powered?

Essentially, there are three basic ways in which these gardening tools get their juice. The manner doesn’t make much of a difference in terms of performance, but you’ll likely have a preference when it comes to handling the device.

Cordless Leaf Blower

The most obvious advantage here is the freedom to move around as you please, without having to adjust any cords. In other words, you can get rid of the leaves in every cut and crevice of your yard in a fraction of the time. Evidently, having a powerful cordless leaf blower is particularly beneficial if you have a large garden.

Plus, the cordless design is generally pretty light and easy to carry. At the end of the day, who’d want to haul a heavy and oversized machine just to get some leaves out of the way? After all, doing tough and physically demanding yard work all the time can be very draining for everyone.

Moreover, these kinds of handy leaf blowers are very environmentally-friendly, since they don’t use gas or fuel in order to operate. Since the primary source of power is the battery, you can easily replace it once it runs out. This feature also makes cordless models very user-friendly and low maintenance.

Unfortunately, there’s a downside to all of this. If you do eventually decide to get a cordless tool, keep in mind that it’ll have a limited run time. Generally speaking, most models can go up to half an hour of runtime with 90 minutes charging time, but it varies between manufacturers. If this doesn’t bother you that much, feel free to have a go at it. In any case, make sure you read the specifications before making a purchase to ensure you’re getting the most suitable machine.

Corded Leaf Blower

You guessed it, you’ll need an electrical outlet to power these babies up. The upside is that you’ll be getting unlimited usage time, without having to stop and charge. This feature is quite convenient for those of you who like to do uninterrupted gardening.

On the other hand, your mobility is limited due to the corded design. More often than not, you’ll find yourself feeling annoyed for not being able to reach certain corners of your garden. It’s up to you to decide whether that’s a significant drawback or a minor inconvenience.

Gas-Powered

Last but certainly not least, the gas-powered is considered to be the most potent option out of the three. If you decide to get one, you’ll be bringing out the big guns. No seriously, these are pretty heavy in addition to the heftier price tag. But if that’s a compromise you’re willing to make, have at it.

What Kinds of Leaf Blowers Are There?

Aside from the corded and cordless leaf blower powering differences aside, there are a couple of design options when it comes to the way this tool looks on the outside. It’s not just looks you’re after here, taking advantage of the functionality and practicality should also be a standout feature.

Handheld

This is the perfect option for small gardens and lawns because it offers the most flexibility and manoeuvrability. This is a compact choice for small errands around your house that will certainly make those pesky leaves go away.

Backpack

Here you hold the tube in your hand while carrying the motor on your back, hence the name. These kinds of leaf blowers are normally more powerful and robust but it’s their ergonomic design that makes them comfortable to manoeuvre. This, in turn, makes them suitable for use for extended periods of time since you don’t have to carry the entire machine in your hands the whole time.

Walk Behind

While this isn’t a common sight in domestic chores, it’s still a worthy contender on this list. Closely resembling snow blowers, you push these machines in the desired location to blow away leaves, paper, cardboard, and all kinds of other garbage that’s found on the ground.

It’s worth noting that walk behind blower tools can be a hassle to clean and maintain since there’s a specific set of steps you need to follow. Additionally, storing them is an issue due to their large exterior and chunky build. In any case, once you get a feel for what you’re looking for, you’ll be able to make an informed decision on the best model for your needs and preferences.