How to Use a Garden Vacuum: A Step-by-Step Guide to Tidiying Your Yard

Last Updated on January 10, 2023

Are you tired of seeing leaves on your lawn? A garden vacuum is a tool that helps you to easily get rid of leaves and other dirt particles that may be in your garden. While a garden vacuum may help you tidy up your backyard, it’s a whole different story when you need to dispose of all the debris. Fortunately, some leaf vacuums can make life easier for you since they have two options: vacuum mode and blower mode. In this guide, we will show you how to use a garden vacuum and its two modes.

Vacuum Mode Vs Blower Option

Most leaf vacuums offer you two options that let you clean up your yard. The vacuum mode sucks in debris and leaves through a vacuum tube into the machine, which stores them in a bag. The blower mode helps you get rid of debris by steering them in a certain direction. Both methods are quite effective in tidying up your yard. Apart from that, these vacuums give you some controls that allow you to change the speed and vacuuming rate.

Practice Using Your Lawn Vacuum

You can also practice how to use a garden vacuum to suck in leaves. Go to a big field with tons of leaves, then try to suck the leaves from different directions. You will familiarise yourself with different techniques after a short period.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using a Garden Vacuum

Step 1: Check The Weather

Before starting using your leaf blower, find out what the weather will be like for the day. A leaf vacuum works smoothly on a calm and sunny day.

Wind

Working on a windy day can be quite hectic. Since the wind might be blowing in different directions, it may be quite difficult for you to vacuum leaves against the breeze’s shifting direction. On the other hand, if you are using the blower option to get rid of debris, the wind might scatter the leave you’ve already piled up.

Sun

Dry leaves have less weight than wet leaves, so it is better to do your vacuuming on a sunny day. Additionally, wet leaves and wet conditions might damage your garden blower. So before you start using this tool, you also have to check if your yard is completely dry. Make sure that there are no sections that might be wet.

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Step 2: Plan Where to Put the Leaves

It would help if you planned where to heap the leaves as you are using the leaf blower. For instance, you can design a compost pit that is big enough to hold all leaves you’ve blown. Additionally, you can use plastic tarps and leaf nets to help you contain the leaves you have tidied up. Ensure the tarp or net in a spot that’s accessible while you are doing your gardening chore.

Step 3: Wear Protective Gear

Since a garden vacuum throws a lot of debris in different directions while it’s in the blower mode, you have to wear protective gear that will shield you from flying debris.

Goggles

Wear some safety goggles before you start using your garden vacuum. It reduces the risk of getting injuries around the eye area.

Ear Defenders

You should also wear some protective ear defenders in conjunction with goggles. Some garden vacuums can be quite noisy when in use. Prolonged exposure to such sound may be bad for your ears.

Gloves

Lastly, wear gloves, especially when you feel that the blower might be uncomfortable to use. You’ll also be able to protect your hands from flying debris.

Step 4: Use The Leaf Blower/Vacuum

Using the Vacuum Mode

Hold the garden vacuum tightly, then tilt it slightly. Point it towards the ground at a certain angle. Start walking forward and move the garden vacuum back and forth as you are sucking in the leaves that might be on your way. Doing this movement will help you cover a larger area as you are doing your task.

Using the Blower Mode

On the other hand, you can also use the blower option to get rid of debris. Just hold the leaf blower a certain angle, then steer the leaves in one direction. This movement prevents you from steering leaves back to an area that is already clean.

Step 5: Use Other Tools

While leaf blowers and vacs are quite effective in helping you clear leaves from your garden, they don’t get rid of every leaf that may be in your yard. In some instances, you have to use a rake or broomstick to finish up your task if you want to make sure there aren’t any leaves left at all in your garden.

Step 6: Throwing Away the Leaves

If you were steering the leaves to a tarp or net, you must carry them and dump them in a bin to be sent to a recycling centre. If the pile is too large, use a shovel to pick up the leaves and throw them in the bin.

Some leaf blowers come with a bag that can hold the leaves that are vacuumed from your yard. Remember that you’ll need to throw out the leaves in the bag when it gets full. The leaf blower might become heavy if you don’t empty it.

Step 7: Using Leaves for Composting

On the other hand, you can use the leaves and do your own home composting, which can turn your garden into valuable food.

Finish Your Gardening Tasks Easily

Leaf blowers make it easier and quicker for you to tidy up your garden. While some people might find it quite challenging to vacuum leaves with this tool, you’ll get used to using it in no time with practice. Remember that the leaves you cleaned up can also benefit your garden as mulch. Try composting for a healthier, more beautiful garden in the long run.

Have you ever used a leaf blower before? How long did it take you to finish cleaning your lawn? Let us know below.