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Maintaining a tidy garden is not as easy as it seems. If you’ve done this daunting task, you know that a rake doesn’t always work.
Not only is this repetitive work, but the raking isn’t always as efficient as you’d like. So it goes without saying that in recent years more and more gardeners have started using garden vacuum cleaners.
But do you need to tidy up your garden? Because yes! Leaving debris on the lawn is messy and sets the stage for an unhealthy lawn.
With low light on lawns and debris creating an ideal environment for disease-causing organisms, a lot can go wrong.
The idea of raking your garden every day may not be the most welcome. So maybe it’s time you ditch your hand tools for a portable, battery-powered garden vacuum.
Contents
What to look for to find the best cordless garden vacuum
Operating mode:
People have turned away from corded garden vacuums over the years. On the plus side, these tools require no charging and can work for hours.
However, his mobility was not optimal. You had to buy an extension cord or run the vacuum close to the power source.
Anything can happen with cables crossing the yard. This is how a cordless garden vacuum cleaner appeared.
You have two options when going cordless: battery-powered and gas-powered. Let’s start with gasoline machines. They have the advantage of high power and long operating hours.
However, you will find that most people stay away. Because? They make a lot of noise and if you decide to vacuum your lawn on a Saturday morning, chances are your neighbors won’t like it.
Second, they have a lot of emissions, which is not good for the environment. Above all, they are more difficult to maintain and quite heavy. The use of these machines only makes sense in certain cases.
The other option is battery powered machines. Like the petrol options, they also offer exceptional performance and mobility.
In most cases, the vacuum can run for a good hour before you need to recharge it. Plus, they don’t have emissions like gas-powered machines, they’re low-maintenance, and they’re not noisy.
For these reasons and more, these machines have gained their popularity.
Portability
Although all cordless garden vacuums are portable, not all of them will be easy to handle. First, you need to consider how much weight you can comfortably support.
Keep in mind that you will probably be charging the machine for at least an hour. While some people can manage a good three pounds, you might have to work with two pounds.
Also, the machine gets heavier over time as you move around and your hands get tired. Not to mention the mulch bag effect! Second, you need to think about storage.
Is the vacuum small enough to fit in your garden shed or other storage space?
energy
The suction power of corded and cordless lawn vacuums is equal to cubic feet per minute (CFM). It measures how much dirt the vacuum cleaner can pick up each minute.
The higher it is, the less time you will spend cleaning the garden. However, you don’t always need the highest CFM on the market.
Again, you need to think about the size of your garden and the debris you are likely to pick up. Otherwise, you risk paying for a high CFM that you won’t fully utilize.
Many garden vacuums on the market are only effective at picking up dry leaves.
This means that if it rains, you are back where you started and again have to use hand tools to get the job done.
Trying to vacuum wet leaves with a dry leaf vacuum will only damage the machine. So what is the best option? – Get a vacuum that can handle both!
Padding rate
If you like composting, it is recommended to use a vacuum cleaner which can also shred the waste. So when the debris falls into the mulch bag, the machine breaks it down.
The result is small pieces that work great with your compost waste. If you’re going this route, you need to understand the mulch ratio, which measures how much debris a vacuum can turn into mulch.
The higher the ratio, the more mulch can be obtained and less waste is wasted. For example, a ratio of 16:1 means that the vacuum cleaner can reduce the amount of dirt by 16 times.
bag size
While the garden vacuum is running, direct the debris into a bag. This is one of the reasons why you need to pay attention to the weight of the vacuum cleaner.
For one thing, it’s a big machine. But on the other hand, dirt will accumulate in a bag strapped to your back. So you will have to balance these two weights for a long time.
Should you go for the bigger bag? No, in the majority of cases. A large bag can put pressure on you, reduce your stability, and even make suctioning a bit tricky.
Instead, choose a bag that can comfortably hold enough dirt for how much you think it will collect. Choose a larger size to account for any additional dirt that may accumulate over time.
You may also be interested in: Which is the Best Lightweight Leaf Blower?
Do garden vacuums work?
Yard vacuums are great for cleaning up light debris and fallen leaves, just like a rake would. The only difference is their speed and efficiency.
With a garden vacuum you can get in and out of your garden in minutes. You no longer have to spend hours in the scorching heat picking up debris in a heap.
Plus, the wind isn’t against you and debris is strewn across the yard every time you finish raking. If you’ve ever raked, you know how annoying it can be.
Most garden vacuums are equipped with blowing and suction functions, which kill two birds with one stone. Some even have shredding capabilities that turn your trash into compostable materials.
However, garden vacuums have some drawbacks. First, they cannot pick up stones or twigs. Of course, if you direct them to the sections with such items, they will easily pick them up.
But these items will clog and damage the machine and send you back to the store. So, before you say goodbye to the idea of a garden vacuum cleaner, here is a highlight.
Although they won’t work in rocky areas, garden vacuums combined with blowers serve two purposes. First, you can use the blower to blow light dirt away from stones and twigs.
You can then use the vacuum cleaner to pick up light dirt. So you can store the machine and enjoy a tidy garden!
To ensure you get the right cordless garden vacuum for your garden, please note:
- Debris in your garden: Are you dealing with pebbles and twigs? The best would be a combined vacuum cleaner and garden blower.
- Yard Size – For larger yards, choose a vacuum with a higher CFM to cover large areas quickly.
Top 3 cordless garden vacuum cleaners
1) Greenworks 40V Cordless Blower/Vacuum
With six blowing speeds and a runtime of up to an hour, this 40V Combo Blower and Vacuum Just do it.
It works on both wet and dry leaves and has a 340cm, 16:1 mulch ratio.
Charging takes two hours and is ideal for small to medium yards. The machine is relatively light in the hands and you can move quickly around the yard without feeling the weight.
Plus, blow mode lets you work with delicate plants by blowing the area instead of vacuuming.
Once you have the debris in a nice pile, you can use the option to vacuum and clear the yard. In large yards, it may be necessary to obtain an additional battery.
2) RYOBI 40-Volt Cordless Leaf Shredder Vacuum
East cordless garden vacuum cleaner with lithium-ion battery it only comes with empty option. So if you need bladder functions, this won’t work for you.
It is also quite heavy and not ideal for people who cannot support large loads for a long time. With these downsides, you might be wondering why this would be such a good deal.
Well, its beauty is in its CFM (340), run time (average 45-55 minutes), and mulch ratio (16:1). Plus, it comes with a large bag that can hold tons of mulch before you need to empty it.
For example, suppose you are working on a large garden; the CFM is enough to clean the whole yard without filling the bag.
3) KIMO 20V Cordless Leaf Blower/Vacuum
With an extra long nozzle, you’ll never have to bend over to vacuum your garden. East Cordless combi leaf vacuum and leaf blower It has a blowing force of 150 MPH and can run for up to an hour.
Plus, it only weighs 2.2 pounds, so it should hang easily even on large patios. The CFM is high enough to collect both wet and dry leaves.
However, this vacuum does not have a mulch option, and composters may want to consider options from RYOBI and Greenworks for this feature.
final thoughts
It’s easy to measure cordless garden vacuums by their prices. However, a high price does not always translate into a good price.
It’s usually best to read customer reviews and get an idea of what to expect.
When choosing a vacuum cleaner, also consider the noise level. Battery-powered machines will generally be much quieter than gas-powered machines. However, it is always a good measure to check the decibel levels.
Happy gardening!
If you liked this article, check out our article on Are Corded Leaf Blowers Worth It?