Best Leaf Blowers and Leaf Blower Vacuums 2023

10.10.2023 - 10:33 / gardenersworld.com

In the autumn months it’s glorious to see the leaves turn from green through to golden brown but once they start to fall and cover our gardens, it’s a different matter. While those that settle on bare ground in the veg patch and in beds can be left to rot down to act as a mulch, piles of leaves on lawns, borders, paths and patios are best cleared away to prevent them becoming a hotbed for pests and diseases or creating a dangerously slippery surface once the wet weather arrives.

Depending on the size of your garden and amount of leaf fall, a rake or broom could do the job well and keep you fit as you clear, but for larger spaces and where leaves have collected in awkward corners and around pots or furniture, leaf blowers and leaf blower vacuums help make the job quicker and easier.

And leaf blowers and leaf blower vacuums aren’t just for autumn, they come into their own at other times of the year too, making light work of tidying up after pruning or lifting unsightly debris that gathers on paths and in corners.

Whatever the season, stay safe and wear protective glasses and ear defenders while using them.

If you’re lumbered with lots of leaves, check out our test of the best gardening gloves to collect them in comfort, and why not learn how to make leaf mould – a super compost and soil conditioner – as well as how to make your own leaf mould bin.

Our expert testers trial hundreds of garden tools to work out which will do the job well and offer the best value, comfort and quality. We’ve tested essentials like the best garden spades and best hoes as well as more specific kit like the best hedge trimmers, the best garden shredders, the best pressure washers and the best trimmers.

Buyer’s Guide to budget leaf blowers – video