This Handy Leaf Blower Alternative Makes Cleaning Up Fallen Leaves A Breeze

Fall leaves are gorgeous to look at in their ruby reds, tantalizing tangerines, glittering golds, and brilliant bronzes. These pops of bright hues amplify your backyard vista. That is ... until those leaves begin falling to the ground. Then it's time to clean up the mess. And it's something you must do to prevent issues that can negatively impact your lawn. Not only can that wet, soggy layer increase the likelihood of diseases like snow mold, but it can also blanket your lawn, blocking plant essentials like light and oxygen. To tackle leaf removal, a blower or even a shop vac can move those leaves around, but it can be cumbersome and require extra backbreaking labor to gather them up into trash bags, which is why a leaf vacuum might be a better option.

Leaf blowers push your leaves using high-powered air. They work well for quick leaf cleanup and can come in handy for getting grass clippings off of your driveways and sidewalks, helping you tidy the yard without having to touch the mess. But they can also be noisy, heavy, and create more work, especially if your neighborhood requires leaf collection. The leaf vacuum, on the other hand, works by sucking your leaves into a bag and can be a bit easier to use when it comes to gathering leaves for disposal, decreasing noise, and bringing some precision and neatness to an already dirty job. And a powerful model can also be used for vacuuming pine needles.

The key advantage of leaf vacuums over leaf blowers lies in their ability to collect and, depending on the model, mulch leaves in a single pass. This dual function can save you cleanup time and effort, but it comes at a higher price point. Typical leaf vacuums range anywhere from $100 to $400 for electric models to $200 to $600 for backpack models. Walk-behind leaf vacuums typically go from $300 to $1,500, while $400 to $2,000 is the usual price tag for tow-behind versions, depending on their features and power level. Gas-powered versions tend to lean toward the more expensive side. A leaf blower, on the other hand, can cost on average $150, but can reach up to $900 for advanced models.

To pick the best leaf vacuum for you, look for one with decent suction to ensure that no matter how many leaves fall in your yard and how heavy with rain they get, your vacuum can handle it. Next, opt for a mulching feature, so you can chop leaves into smaller bits and fit more into your collection bag. Then, consider bag capacity. If you have a tiny yard, a small bag will work and be light enough to handle. Large bags that hold up to 50 pounds are best for mega-sized yards. A gas-powered vacuum will have more power and help you tackle more leaves, but an electric version is quieter and best for a smaller yard. Battery-powered leaf vacuums could offer you the best of both worlds. To outfit the rest of your yard maintenance arsenal, check out this homeowner's guide to lawn care tools.