Learning how to use leaf blower on lawns doesn’t require exceptional skills and knowledge. However, before you start to blow those pesky leaves that cover your lawn, there are some factors to consider.
Let’s explore the different aspects of leaf blowing and other related topics.
What Are the Different Varieties of Leaf Blowers?
Before we discuss how to use leaf blower on lawns, it’s essential to be aware of the three most common types for home use.
Handheld
Handheld leaf blowers are the most common option for homes due to their compact features.
Most models are ideal for porches, gazebos, and any small yard due to their mobility, flexibility, and lightweight build. Handheld blowers may not be powerful enough to blow away heavy trash, but they can manage light snow, dust, and sawdust.
However, their weight is maintained by your hands and arms, making them difficult to use for extended periods.
A portable leaf blower is perfect for those with a small yard or who rarely use a leaf blower. It doesn’t have as much leaf-blowing power as the others, but it can easily remove leaves, dead grass, and small debris from your lawn.
Backpack
As the name suggests, backpack leaf blowers are worn on your back and often used for larger lawn operations. They are usually larger and heavier than handheld models, but they are also made with better ergonomics to compensate for the weight.
Backpack blowers, in some situations, can be less taxing to carry around due to their design. Many high-end models are powerful enough for moderate commercial usage, making them ideal if you have a lawn care service or have huge real estate.
Handheld leaf blowers may be lighter to carry around but if you’re working on a sizable property, going for a backpack type is more suitable. Just keep in mind that carrying around the blower with your arm for an extended period will eventually wear you out.
Walk-Behind
The walk-behind leaf blower is the wheeled variant that bears design similarities to a lawn mower. Compared to the other two, this type has the capacity of blowing away larger volumes of leaves, dirt, and debris, wet or dry.
You can use the walk-behind leaf blower to efficiently move litter on large lawns, farms, and commercial establishments.
The engine of this blower is mounted on a chassis with wheels to drive them easily. This design allows you to have no concerns about the weight and size of the motor since the wheels take care of that.
As you may expect, the power and performance of walk-behind models far exceed handheld and backpack blowers.
How To Prepare for Blowing Leaves
Before you start collecting leaves on your lawn, below are some tips to make the task easier and safer.
Make a Plan
If you happen to own a large lawn, it would be more efficient to have an organized course of action.
First, scan the area you’re going to work on to know which spot to start. It will also help you recognize where is the most convenient area to gather the leaves while minimizing duplication of work.
Prepare Your Tarp
Blowing leaves onto a large tarp might help you save time once you’re done with gathering. It’s highly recommended to put the tarp down in a spot already cleaned or that does not have a lot of leaves.
Following this tip makes leaf collection a breeze as it will save you lots of time. You can even purchase a commercially-made leaf tarp with raised borders to keep the collected leaves from flying around.
Consider Wind Direction
Always consider the wind direction whenever you use a leaf blower instead of a traditional rake to remove leaves. It would be more efficient to follow the wind than against it.
With that in mind, position your blower in a location where the wind blows. Also, it’s tough to blow leaves where you want them when it’s really windy, as resistance will be more evident. As much as possible, always work on days when wind pressure is not an issue.
Check the Weather Condition
Be updated on the weather forecast to determine the most optimal time to utilize your leaf blower.
Dry leaves are significantly more straightforward to manage than wet ones since the former is light enough for the leaf blower to work with. Avoid using leaf blowers unless you have a very strong urge to clean out the yard after a rainy day. Otherwise, wait for a few sunny days to ensure that everything is dry.
Practice Safety Measures
When operating a leaf blower, you must be adequately protected.
Always wear protective glasses, filled-in shoes, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves, headphones or ear protection, and long pants. Having this set of clothing protects you from small, sharp debris that might blow in your direction.
Be aware of pets and other people in the area where you’re using the leaf blower. As much as possible, keep them away from you to decrease the risk of injuries.
How To Use Leaf Blower on Lawns
While the general rule for leaf blowers is always to blow leaves in a single direction, there are other steps that you should consider. Below are some of them.
Divide and Conquer
To avoid getting overwhelmed when working in a large yard, divide the task by working in small areas. You’ll finish the leaf-blowing duty faster if you first break it down into sections.
Begin from one end of the section and blow all the way to the center. Instead of blasting everything into a single, huge pile, form a small pile for each area you sectioned the leaves off. This will make the disposal of the leaves easier because you already arrange the leaves into a manageable size.
Prioritize Corners
Always blow the leaves piling from the corners of your house. After you clear these tight spaces of leaves, continue to blast until all of them are in a convenient spot for cleanup.
Steady Sweeps
When you have a vast section of leaves to collect, use broad and steady sweeps instead of quick, erratic motions. When you work at this rate, you’re more likely to have a smooth-blowing operation that will save you from duplicate work.
Keep the Blower Close To the Ground
To ensure you’re using the leaf blower efficiently, always try to hold it close to the ground but not too much. Holding it far from the ground may significantly affect its blowing power, while having it too close may hamper your control.
How To Cleanup
Blowing leaves away alone will not make them disappear from your lawn. You can remove the leaves collected from the tarp once you’ve cleaned all the areas.
Some people will collect leaves in bags and dispose of them manually. However, it’s more efficient to lift the entire tarp, connect and tie the corners to each other, and remove the leaves all at once.
If you plan to remove the tarp altogether, it would be easier to have someone to assist. In some situations, not all leaves are removable by leaf blowers. That’s why always keep a leaf rake nearby to ensure that you will get all the leaves.
Successfully Blowing Leaves in Your Yard
Blowing leaves on the lawn may not be the most complex task in maintaining your house, but it still has a set of challenges. Still, it would be significantly easier and safer if you had made the necessary planning and correct procedure.
Having a high-quality leaf blower will also help. As such, invest in a good model and always keep your tools maintained regularly.