Garden maintenance is a year round job, but this can become harder in the autumn - especially when the trees start shedding their leaves in preparation for the winter. But how can you keep your lawns and drives looking neat and tidy, without raking every few hours? The answer is simple - leaf blowers.
In this guide, we’ll explain the key considerations you need to know about buying a new leaf blower, including what to look for and how to choose the right one for your needs. Keep reading to learn more from the Hughie Willett Machinery team…
What is a leaf blower?
So, to start off with the absolute basics, what is a leaf blower?
This useful groundcare tool channels air through a blower tube to move debris into easily manageable piles. These can then be raked into bags and disposed of to help you maintain a neat and tidy garden or drive.
As you will see below, there are several different types of leaf blower, including leaf blower vacuums that suck up garden waste, and some that can even shred the leaves into smaller, more disposable forms.
When do you use a leaf blower?
Leaf blowers, as the name suggests, are primarily used to help people clean up or move fallen leaves during late autumn and early winter. However, they’re also useful for clearing grass cuttings, hedge clippings, and other small debris from your lawn.
Top tip - there is a lot of discussion around whether or not you should clear leaves before winter. On the one hand, fallen leaves are a ready source of rich, nutritious organic matter that can help replenish your soil. On the other, if these are left on a lawn, they could smother the grass below and encourage the onset of rot. Using a leaf blower can help you direct garden debris into designated areas, where it can then be used for the most benefit.
Parts of a leaf blower
Whenever you’re buying a new tool, it’s important that you know what the different parts are and what they do. This will help you know what to look for, and choose the right model for your needs.
Below, we’ve included a labelled image of a standard leaf blower to illustrate the different parts we’ll reference throughout the article, along with a brief explanation of their function.
Note - this is a smaller, handheld leaf blower, specifically the Stihl BGA57 AK SYSTEM Compact Cordless / Battery Blower. Larger, or combination, models will have different features.
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Throttle trigger: the throttle trigger controls the speed and power of your leaf blower, and is typically located near or on the handle for ease of use.
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Throttle lock: many power tools now come with a throttle lock which must be engaged with the throttle before the tool will work. In this instance, the lock prevents accidental activation of your leaf blower - for your safety, and the safety of those around you.
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Handle: this particular model can be held in one hand, so only has one simple handle from which you control the leaf blower. Larger models may have an additional front handle for dual-wielding.
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Blower tube: as the name suggests, the blower tube (or pipe) is where the air passes through the leaf blower. This model has an adjustable tube with three different lengths for you to choose from.
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Blower tube end: this is the ‘business end’ of a leaf blower, where air passes through. For vacuum leaf blowers, this is also where materials are suctioned down the tube and into a bag.
Leaf blower buying considerations
Before you commit to your purchase of a new leaf blower, there are several things you need to consider. Different models of leaf blower have their own qualities, advantages, and disadvantages that will have an impact on which one is best for you.
In this section, we’ll take you through the most important aspects of choosing a leaf blower, and what these will mean depending on your needs.
Model type
One of the first things you need to consider is what type of leaf blower will best suit your needs. Leaf blowers come in three primary types, which are as follows.
Hand-held leaf blowers
Hand-held leaf blowers are the smallest type of model available, which can have plenty of benefits. Theoretically, a hand-held leaf blower is the most portable because they can be picked up and moved to wherever you need to work. However, this benefit can be limited by weight and power, as this will impact how well you can use it.
Walk-behind leaf blowers
You may not see them as often, but walk-behind leaf blowers can be incredibly useful for certain people, or specific tasks. These units are mounted on wheels, which can make them easier to control - especially for people with reduced mobility or upper body strength.
By putting a leaf blower on wheels, there is more scope for power and weight, as you don’t always need to lift and move the machine. On the other hand, you sacrifice a lot of the flexibility and mobility that makes leaf blowers so useful.
Backpack leaf blowers
More industrial or professional users will probably be familiar with the backpack leaf blower models. These are ideal for prolonged use as the weight is distributed across a larger area, and can be more comfortable over time.
For larger areas, like public parks and pavements, this is perfect as you can work for longer without tiring as much. However, backpack leaf blowers can be uncomfortable if you’re not used to them, and you need more experience to use them efficiently.
Size and weight
Size and weight are fundamental considerations that will dictate whether you can even use your leaf blower at all - let alone efficiently.
Whichever leaf blower you choose, you need to be able to lift it comfortably and be capable of carrying it for the duration of your task. Otherwise, you’ll likely waste a lot of time, energy, and money trying to use an unsuitable leaf blower.
This is why your own strength and size will have an impact on which leaf blower is better for your needs. For example, if your leaf blower is too heavy, or too bulky, you won’t be able to use it properly - and may even injure yourself, or someone around you.
Plus, you need to make sure your chosen leaf blower is appropriate for your needs. If it’s too big, you won’t have the control to manage a small area, whereas if it’s too small, it can take you longer to complete a task.
Area size
The size of your chosen area will also have an influence on which leaf blower is right for your needs.
For larger spaces like parks or public areas, you want a powerful leaf blower that will be able to complete the job within a reasonable time frame. On the other hand, if you’re planning on using your leaf blower in a small garden, or in a domestic setting, a less powerful model that’s easier to use and control is ideal.
Power type
As with most groundcare tools, power type will be a huge factor in deciding which model of leaf blower you should buy. There are three main power sources for a leaf blower, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Note - we will give a brief explanation in this article. For a more in-depth examination of the types of leaf blower, check out our article on What Type of Leaf Blower is Right for Me?
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Petrol leaf blowers: These are typically the most powerful due to the 2-stroke or 4-stroke engine. However, this also means they’re the heaviest and noisiest type of leaf blower. Petrol leaf blowers are ideal for groundcare professionals, or those with large areas to clear.
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Electric leaf blowers: Electric leaf blowers are the most reliable in terms of power source (once plugged in, electricity is stable, and won’t need to be refuelled). However, the cord will cause problems, as you lose a lot of mobility - which means this type is best for tasks close to home.
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Cordless leaf blowers: With a cordless leaf blower, you get all the stability and ease of electricity, but with the portability and mobility of petrol power. The main disadvantage is the battery life, as you will have to work with the time pressure to ensure it doesn’t cut out in the middle of a job. However, since they’re easy to use, they’re a great leaf blower for beginners.
Power capacity
Power should always be a consideration when you’re buying a new groundcare tool - leaf blowers included. Power will dictate the type of work you can do, how long it takes to finish a task, and how well you can control your tool.
Whilst the power source of your leaf blower will either be in cc (cubic centimetres) for petrol models, or W (watts) for electrical leaf blowers, the actual power of your leaf blower is measured in mph - or air speed, and CFM - or how many cubic feet of air your leaf blower moves in a minute.
You should consider CFM a ‘how much’ measurement because leaf blowers with a larger CFM can produce more air and clear larger areas quicker. MPH, or air speed, will dictate the size of the items you can move - as a ‘how big’ measurement. If air is being pushed through at a higher speed, it can generate more force which is perfect if you need to move heavier objects.
Overall, if you have a larger area to clear, or heavier garden debris, you will need to consider the mph and CFM of your leaf blower as this will help you complete the job safely and within an allotted time frame.
Top tip - using a leaf blower that’s too powerful for you to control could harm you, or those around you, so always make sure you know how to use your leaf blower safely. However, if it’s too weak, you won’t be able to complete the job - which is a waste of resources.
Multiple uses
Traditional leaf blowers are solely for clearing or moving garden debris like leaves, grass clippings, and other materials. However, as the technology has developed, you can get combination leaf blower vacuums, and even ones that will shred leaves further for an easier disposal method.
Leaf blower vacuums come with collection bags to make it easier to dispose of garden waste once you’re done, whilst leaf blower shredders have an inbuilt impeller to shred through the leaves as they come up the tube. This is perfect for those looking to mulch their garden waste, or simply prefer not to rake once the leaves have been blown away.
Top tip - if you can, get a leaf blower shredder with a metal impeller. This is less likely to break if something harder is accidentally sucked into the tool.
If you’d prefer, some brands (including Stihl leaf blowers) come with simple attachment sets which will allow you to convert your leaf blower into a vacuum with the addition of a bag and new hoses. For example, the Stihl Vacuum Kit for Stihl BG56 & BG86 will seamlessly fix onto specific models to give you more scope for better groundcare.
Additional features
When it comes to buying a leaf blower, you want to make sure you’re getting plenty of value for money - which means keeping an eye out for additional features that will make your life easier in the long run.
If you need a petrol leaf blower, one thing to look out for is an assisted starter mechanism. This technology allows for an integrated easier starter for petrol tools to make them more accessible, as there is less risk of flooding or stalling the engine. The Stihl leaf blower below, for example, has ErgoStart technology and a semi-automatic choke lever to make it easier to use.
Another thing to look out for is anti-vibration technology, as this will reduce the impact of the tool on your joints over time. Take the Stihl BR350 Backpack Blower for example. The anti-vibration technology makes this backpack leaf blower more comfortable - and safer - to wear for prolonged periods of time.
If you do choose to buy a combination leaf blower vacuum, there are even more features that can offer you more value of money. For example, you’ll need to consider bag volume as this will limit how much garden debris you can move at a time - a larger bag will need fewer trips to be emptied, and may make it faster for you to complete your task.
You should also see if the leaf blower model you want has compatible nozzle attachments to make certain tasks more efficient.
For example, flatter nozzles on a leaf blower gives you more control over the direction you’re clearing the materials, which can make clean-up easier. Wider nozzles on a leaf blower vacuum will allow you to suction more leaves at a time - helping you finish a task faster. Alternatively, gutter cleaning attachments make it easier for you to clear hard-to-reach areas to help you fully clean your garden.
Some leaf blowers have variable speed controls. This can help you be more accurate when you’re working. A lower air speed means you can avoid picking up heavier items like stones and acorns which could damage your leaf blower - or spread gravel across your garden.
Price
Price is, and always will be, one of the most important considerations before you buy a new power tool. So, one question you need to ask yourself is ‘how much is a leaf blower?’
At Hughie Willett Machinery, we have a wide array of leaf blowers to suit any budget. With prices ranging from £100 to £1,650, and a great range of accessories, browse online today to find the right leaf blower for your needs.
Brand
The brand of leaf blower can have an impact on which tool will work best for you. As we mentioned above, battery powered leaf blowers are incredibly useful in creating a lending system between your power tool collection - but this will usually only work if they’re the same brand.
At Hughie Willett Machinery, we have a fantastic selection of leaf blowers from industry-leading brands like Stihl, Husqvarna, and Billy Goat. We’re proud to stock products from these makers, and trust in their years of experience in tool design - and you can too.
Choose Hughie Willett Machinery for your new leaf blower
We hope you’ve found this guide useful, and you feel prepared to take your next steps in your groundcare routine with a new leaf blower.
At Hughie Willett Machinery, we have decades of experience as one of the leading groundcare equipment suppliers in the UK.
So, whether you have more questions, or want to consult with a member of our team at any point in your buying journey, get in touch with us either online or by calling 0121 308 1262.
Shop leaf blowers at Hughie Willett Machinery today
For more groundcare equipment buying guides, advice, and the latest information, check out the Hughie Willett Machinery blog…
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