Garden Vac

R

roberta1000

• 22 Oct 2010

• #1

I think I know that this is a bit of an unlikely one, but has anyone any (positive) recommendations for an electric garden vac? The reviews all seem pretty dire but at this time of year I have a fair few leaves to try to collect and raking through the beds is pretty difficult.
Thanks.

 

toptec

Joined

19 May 2007

Messages

881

Reaction score

9

Location

Dorset

Country

• 22 Oct 2010

• #2

I actually inherited a large Black and Decker one. I have used it a few times but the main drawbacks are the weight and the noise. Does a very good job of hoovering up small twigs and leaves.... even wet ones, but once the bag is full you need a forklift to keep it up off the ground!! Ear protectors are essential although my dogs run a mile when it starts up!!

 

B

Burnerman

Joined

7 Feb 2008

Messages

25,081

Reaction score

5,284

Location

Northumberland

Country

• 22 Oct 2010

• #3

I've got a Ryobi petrol vac - a real back breaker and as heavy as hell when full. The bag oozes gunge onto your leg, too.
Its good enough with dry leaves but can clog with wet ones and it doesn't like twigs, either.
I prefer my Stihl BG56 blower to pile the leaves up, and then get rid using a brush and shovel into a dumpy bag.
John

 

HERTS P&D

Joined

9 Apr 2010

Messages

15,205

Reaction score

2,844

Location

Hertfordshire

Country

• 22 Oct 2010

• #4

What I normally do, when the lawn is full of leaves is, set the lawn mower to a high setting and go over the grass. This way it picks up all the leaves and shreds them. No back breaking raking to do.

Andy

 

R

roberta1000

• 24 Oct 2010

• #5

Thanks all.
Yes, I thought that the weight of a bagfull of wet leaves might be a bit of a turn-off. Ah well!
HERTSDRAINAGE2010 I actually use a Wolf leafsweeper on the lawn (works just fine) but the huge numbers of leaves that collect through the shrubberies etc. are the problem.

 

A

anneg

Joined

26 Oct 2010

Messages

3

Reaction score

0

Location

Hampshire

Country

• 26 Oct 2010

• #6

Just thought I would mention that I bought a small one from Wickes last year. I found it really good and not too heavy - though noisy so have to wear ear defenders.

I am only 5ft tall and 8 stone, and was able to carry it without it dragging on the floor or making my shoulders ache. I used the blower bit to get them into a heap and then sucked them up - though I did wait for a fine day when things had dried up a bit - it was really useful for the dead flowers from our clematis montana that fall on and in between the pebbles we have under the pergola - I had been using my household vaccuum until we bought it!