Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2005

Gear up for fall

What’s not to love about autumn? The weather gets cooler, football season begins and the leaves turn into an array of vibrant colors. Even though the leaves are aesthetically pleasing, they can become an annoyance when removing them from your yard. Clearing leaves over and over again can become a big waste of time. To ease the process, one must use only the best tools and technology available.

One of the best weapons to use in the war on leaves is a blower/vac. Look for a machine with at least two air speeds - a lower speed for sweeping out the garage and gathering leaves into smaller piles, and a higher speed to tackle the heavy, wet leaves. Blower/vacs with infinitely variable speed control offer ultimate flexibility in both blower and vacuum modes. The air speed can be set to just the right amount of power for the task at hand.

Two other important blower/vac features are the impeller and the leaf reduction ratio. Durable impellers can tackle heavy-duty debris without clogging. Blower/vacs with larger leaf-reduction ratios mean fewer bags of leaves to haul. Look for ratios as high as 16:1. That means you’ll be able to fit the equivalent of 16 unmulched bags into just one.

If a blower/vac doesn’t fit into your yard’s equation, take a low-tech approach and purchase a quality rake. There are a number of new models on the market that are geared toward making the task as comfortable as possible. The best bang for your buck is an old-fashioned steel tine rake. The durability of a steel tine rake surpasses all others. Plus, since they are so durable, steel tine rakes can enable users to remove leaves for many fall seasons to come.

Although steel tine rakes are durable, they are not always the lightest. For lightweight rakes however, poly or plastic rakes are the best way to go. These rakes are easy to handle and are great for removing leaves, grass and other loose materials. Combination rakes that are made with both poly and steel can incorporate the best features of both types.

Whether your approach is high-tech or traditional, choosing the right lawn tools can help you get the job done faster, leaving you with more time for the tasks you really enjoy.

— Yardcare.com