If the thought of raking up the leaves and debris on your large property is overwhelming, a lawn vacuum may be the perfect solution to your problem. If you’re a professional landscaper, it’s a must. These gas-powered suction machines are like the vacuum cleaner you use to tidy up your house on a much larger and more powerful scale.
Lawn vacuums often resemble push lawn mowers although they have larger wheels and much larger, enclosed debris catchers. Lawn vacuums pick up leaves, twigs, trash and even small stones as you push them around the property, much like a walk-behind lawn mower. Many vacuums have a built-in mulching system that produces tiny pieces perfect for adding to the garden or compost pile. If you prefer to discard the debris it is much more compact after mulching.
Unlike traditional raking, using a lawn vacuum is easy and much less time-consuming. The wider the collection deck, the faster the job will go. Tractor owners and professional landscapers may opt for a tow-behind model that can transform your equipment into a powerful outdoor vacuum. These powerhouses can collect up to 10 times the amount of debris of a typical lawn mower. They also mulch and bag the debris and can be used to collect a wider variety of debris including wood chips. Some can double as a wood chipper for small saplings and branches. Look for a vacuum with a wide collection hose and enough power to avoid clogging, which will reduce your productivity.
Many lawn vacuums come with a hose attachment or detachable hose for cleaning out planters, under shrubbery, in gardens, behind air conditioning units and other hard-to-reach places outside. Lawn vacuums also make quick work of cleaning off driveways, sidewalks and patios.