Leaf Vacuum

[Hazel at the Hill]

Ok grapes - lets have your best recommendations, please, based on the following...

My mother saw my next door neighbour the other day using his leaf vacuum thing on the chippings on the drive - she's got leaves falling on her chippings too, and now wants one too as it's such a bugger to rake the leaves up without taking a load of the chippings too.

Mum's fit as a flea, but is not getting any younger and is a little sparrow, so needs one not too heavy, and one which is simple to use too!

What should she buy...?

[Alice]

Hi Hazel, maybe it's just me but I have one which I never use. I find it heavy and awkward and more bother than it's worth - and I have plenty of leaves to clear up.
I really find it easier to sweep the leaves with a deck scrubber type brush. I use it on the grass, the gravel, the paths - then just lift the leaves.
I'll be interested to see what others think.

[HeyWayne]

Want mine?

I'm the same. Lady HW bought me one from one of those shocking channels....sorry, shopping channels, and it's rubbish. It's an electrical one and the plug is on a piece of flex about a foot long - so you have to carry the "heavy" end of an extension lead around with you as you go.

I used it for a short while last year as I had a lot of acorns and dandelion seeds landing on my new prize lawn. I soon got fed up and resorted to raking/sweeping. Takes a little bit longer as you have to bag them once swept, but far easier to carry the rake/broom round than the ruddy great leaf blower.

[Alice]

That's 2 against. Anybody got one they like ?

[valmarg]

Yes.

Ours blows as well as sucks, so you can blow the leaves into a pile, and then suck them up. You can also get models that shred the leaves as they are sucked up.

Admittedly they are a bit heavy, but very easy to use.

valmarg