Forget Traditional Rakes: The Amazon Find That Makes Fall Lawn Maintenance Easier

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Is there anything more beautiful than an autumn lawn freshly free of leaves and looking dark green, lush, and lovely? It's an uplifting sight, and one that's hard-earned through hard toil and often plenty of aggravation. There are many things most of us would like better than raking for hours at a time (like a root canal, pink eye, or tonsilitis, to name a few). Rakes have not changed significantly since approximately the fall of Troy. They are still powered by our arm and shoulder muscles, with all the limitations that implies. But now, there is a better (read: gasoline free) tool to quickly clean up leaves. All you need is a lawn sweeper like the VEVOR Push Lawn Sweeper, available on Amazon starting at $90. 

You simply push the VEVOR sweeper around your yard as you would a lawn mower, and lines of rigid bristles on the rotating axle lift yard waste into the hopper bag, giving you an easy way to clear fallen leaves, pine needles, grass clippings, and more. The smallest version of the leaf collector holds up to 3 ½ cubic feet, while the largest has a 12-cubic-foot volume, though some buyers noted the basket can struggle to pick up and hold its maximum capacity in debris. When the hopper is full, you take the collected material out of the sweeper, putting it in your compost pile or bagging it for pickup. The sweeper options range from 21 inches to 30 inches in width, and you can adjust the roller height for its best performance, which is easy with the adjuster on the front of the unit. Lift it high for leaves, and drop it lower for other debris.

To use the VEVOR sweeper effectively, there needs to be a bit of yard prep. It's best to pick up any sticks, dangerous debris, and excessively large items from the lawn. The sweep also works more smoothly if the grass is not too long. It can require a surprising amount of force to move, especially on the lower height settings. The rotating bristles essentially comb your grass, so to make life as easy as possible, mow your lawn to a relatively low height.

There is some assembly required when you get the package from Amazon. Once it's assembled, use the sweeper when your lawn is dry, as wet leaves are much harder to pick up. Adjust the bristles of the sweeper so they are just touching the top of the grass. Push the sweeper methodically around the yard, emptying the hopper as it fills. Adjust the brush level as needed; you may have to readjust it for different areas of your yard. And of course, always play it safe by wearing protective shoes and keep your fingers out of the rotating bush.

As with most lawn maintenance equipment, upkeep is the key to keeping the VEVOR lawn sweeper working well. Clean the sweeper after every use, and regularly check for damage or loose parts that need tightening. Dirt and other flotsam and jetsam from the yard will build up, so get it off to ensure the sweepers will be ready for the next lawn maintenance task. Once clean, lightly lubricate the moving parts, wiping off any excess oil.