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leaf blower needed

punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
in Tools and techniques
For years I have cleared borders by hand, but need to start making my life a bit easier.
I need advice on the best leaf blower to buy.
Large garden with many trees and not as fit as I was.
How can you lie there and think of England
When you don't even know who's in the team

S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
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Posts

  • Joyce21Joyce21 Posts: 15,489
    I've been using a Black and Decker leaf blower/sucker for over thirty years but don't know about up to date models.
    SW Scotland
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    I use an Ego battery one, came free with the chainsaw. It’s brilliant, light, easy to use and very powerful. Probably only cost-effective used in conjunction with the other multi-tools, though, as if you were buying the blower on it’s own, you would need to buy the battery and battery charger as well. 
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • JemulaJemula Posts: 196
    I like my Draper 3 in 1 but for a large garden with lots of trees something more robust would probably be needed.
  • BrexiteerBrexiteer Posts: 955
    Be better to get someone in once a week if your struggling. I have someone once a week in autumn going into winter maybe 2 months costs me £20 per week
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    I have found my leaf blower to be of limited use.

    I have a heavy duty petrol one which flattens (doesn't necessarily damage) softer plants in borders . Leaves tend to just get blown deeper into the border unless you stand at the back and work outwards. The blower itself is quite heavy and a bit unwieldy and I find it impossible to blow the leaves into tidy piles in the border.

    The blower is quite useful on the shingle drive but often blows lots of shingle into the leaves as well. A sucker would be useless as that would suck up the shingle (the neighbour's done that trick....)

    It is most effective on the lawn but, even there, I find it as easy to 'vacuum' leaves with the lawn mower. That has the added benefit of yielding a nice mix of fresh grass and chopped dead leaves all ready for composting.

    To be honest I find it easier to use a cultivator type attachment on a Wolf Garten long multi tool handle for the borders (I just pull the leaves on to the lawn ready for the mower), a proper leaf rake for the drive and the lawn mower for the lawns. The leaf blower is so heavy for me to use that it's actually harder work than the other tools.

    But then I'm only 5' tall and not particularly strong. I suspect it's a different world for some people😁
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • BrexiteerBrexiteer Posts: 955
    Topbird said:
    I have found my leaf blower to be of limited use.

    I have a heavy duty petrol one which flattens (doesn't necessarily damage) softer plants in borders . Leaves tend to just get blown deeper into the border unless you stand at the back and work outwards. The blower itself is quite heavy and a bit unwieldy and I find it impossible to blow the leaves into tidy piles in the border.

    The blower is quite useful on the shingle drive but often blows lots of shingle into the leaves as well. A sucker would be useless as that would suck up the shingle (the neighbour's done that trick....)

    It is most effective on the lawn but, even there, I find it as easy to 'vacuum' leaves with the lawn mower. That has the added benefit of yielding a nice mix of fresh grass and chopped dead leaves all ready for composting.

    To be honest I find it easier to use a cultivator type attachment on a Wolf Garten long multi tool handle for the borders (I just pull the leaves on to the lawn ready for the mower), a proper leaf rake for the drive and the lawn mower for the lawns. The leaf blower is so heavy for me to use that it's actually harder work than the other tools.

    But then I'm only 5' tall and not particularly strong. I suspect it's a different world for some people😁
    I got rid of our blower/sucker as it was a bit to heavy to use comfortably 
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    With apologies to Clint - do you feel lucky punk? https://www.gardenersworld.com/win/win-a-battery-powered-leafblower-and-lawnmower/

  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    The Which review of leaf blowers has the following recommendations
    1. Stihl cordless BGA56 76%
    2. Ryobi OBL1802 Cordless 73%
    3. Mitox 280BVX petrol 73%
    4. Bosch cordless ALB18 71%
    5. Stihl cordless BGA85 70%
    6. Stihl SHE71 70%

    Lower down the list were the Black and Deckers, Flymos, and Drapers.

    i have seriously thought about getting a Stihl BGA56 and am a great admirer of Stihl products but the gardener says she’s happy to use a rake. I’ll ask again when the leaves start to tumble. There are several ash, birch and fruit trees in the garden as well as a lengthy hawthorn hedge
    Rutland, England
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Thank you @BenCotto, that is very helpful. A trip to the Stihl shop I think.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • glasgowdanglasgowdan Posts: 632
    How big is this big garden? 

    I'd recommend a second hand stihl BR500/600-type machine. A blower is, without doubt, the most time-saving tool a gardener can own. Blow ALL the debris onto lawns or driveways where it's easy to collect with a mower or brush. 

    Hand-held blowers are hard work compared to backpacks. They twist your forearm and put strain on your shoulder. 
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