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The best leaf blowers for clearing your garden or pathway, tried and tested
Leaf blowers can be a tad divisive. They’re known to be noisy and as an organic gardener of 20 years, I believe there’s a lot to be said for letting leaves stay where they fall to act as compost and mulch. Nevertheless, if you need to maintain a lawn, patio, driveway or path in the shadow of a deciduous tree, they also make a handy garden companion come autumn.
The best leaf blowers help to move fallen leaves, or even hedge trimmings, so you can easily keep on top of them. They start from around £50 for a small, low-power machine and go up to around £600 for a large professional leaf blower. Some also double as leaf vacuums, which suck up leaves, shred them and collect them into a bag. Rather than binning this waste, consider using it as mulch or putting it in a compost bin.
You can read my reviews below, followed by answers to some frequently asked questions. But first, these are my top five leaf blowers at a glance:
The best leaf blowers: At a glance
How to choose the best leaf blower
Choosing the right leaf blower for you will depend on several factors. First, consider the size of your garden or area where you will likely use it the most. This corresponds with the capacity you’ll need: larger leaf blowers are effective over big spaces but can be a hindrance in tighter spaces. If you’re tight on storage, a smaller one is ample and will be easier to pick up and put down.
Decide whether you want to simply move the leaves, push them under a hedgerow or tree, or if you want to pick them up to add to your compost. If it’s the latter, think about buying one with a vacuum.
To determine the best power level, look at the volume of air they emit. Higher volumes typically equate to more power, though a wider tube will lessen its effects. A narrower blower tube is good for more precise tidying, like clearing debris around pots or shrubs. Note that the type of ground you plan to clear should also affect your choice, as more power is needed to move leaves from grass than from a patio, path or driveway. If you have a variety of surfaces to cover, look for a tool with variable power.
Many leaf blowers nowadays are battery powered, offering flexibility, but with a more limited runtime. Petrol-powered leaf blowers deliver more oomph and run for longer, but they are heavier.
