Leaf Vacuum Suggestions/Recommendations.

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EarthWindandFire
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Post by EarthWindandFire » Wed. Apr. 14, 2021 1:00 pm

I've been at my new house for just three months now, but I can tell the amount of leaves in the fall would be at least a hundred bags worth. So, I'm thinking about getting a walk-behind leaf vacuum with hose. Does anyone here have one?

I know I need a vac/shredder with at least a 5:1 volume reduction. A hose would be helpful but not necessary. I'm guessing a self-propelled model because if I don't get that, I will regret that decision in ten years.

Each brand claims to be the best. The owner of Billy Goat says his is better than DR....etc.

Thanks for any feedback!

 
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Post by franco b » Wed. Apr. 14, 2021 3:54 pm

If possible do as the pro's do. Blow onto a tarp and then drag to a spot to rot.

 
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Post by warminmn » Wed. Apr. 14, 2021 5:04 pm

What Franco said. Great natural mulch and put in the woods. Your tree's will get a lot of good from it. It was theirs to begin with.

If you have neighbors you dislike wait until the wind is blowing their way and light a pile of it. :twisted:

 
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Post by LeoinRI » Wed. Apr. 14, 2021 8:19 pm

If you don't use the tarp method, pay a lot of attention to the design of the bag and how it is emptied. I had a Toro that had a bag with a "narrow" opening. It was such a PIA to empty the bag that I bought and installed a zipper along one of the side seams.


 
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Post by coaledsweat » Wed. Apr. 14, 2021 8:33 pm

Which is louder/more annoying noise, blower or vacuum?

 
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Post by Rob R. » Wed. Apr. 14, 2021 8:37 pm

EarthWindandFire wrote:
Wed. Apr. 14, 2021 1:00 pm
I've been at my new house for just three months now, but I can tell the amount of leaves in the fall would be at least a hundred bags worth. So, I'm thinking about getting a walk-behind leaf vacuum with hose. Does anyone here have one?

I know I need a vac/shredder with at least a 5:1 volume reduction. A hose would be helpful but not necessary. I'm guessing a self-propelled model because if I don't get that, I will regret that decision in ten years.

Each brand claims to be the best. The owner of Billy Goat says his is better than DR....etc.

Thanks for any feedback!
Are you basing this on the amount of leaves you see on the ground, or just the number of trees? I ask because I have a huge maple tree next to my house, and I have to look hard to find any leaves in the spring. Nearly all of the leaves blow away by Xmas, and anything left gets mulched by the lawn mower. Perhaps the leaves won't accumulate like you expect?

As for the walk behind leaf vac - I have never seen one. Everyone around here seems to deal with the leaves via rake/blower or hires a landscaping crew with a huge vacuum and hose that puts the leaves into the back of a truck.

 
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Post by Richard S. » Wed. Apr. 14, 2021 9:04 pm

Mulch them into the grass and be done with it. It's good for the grass.

 
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Post by Holdencoal » Wed. Apr. 14, 2021 9:13 pm

I picked up a walk behind blower from HD. But I see older billy goats vacs on market place cheap and worth a look.


 
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Post by CDF_USAF » Fri. Apr. 16, 2021 6:49 pm

I have a Troy built walk behind vac, and mostly use it stationary with the bag off and blow the leaves to it and shred onto the compost pile. The blower is better for handling the leaves. But the vac is better for the helicopters in the spring.

 
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Post by Den034071 » Fri. Apr. 16, 2021 9:39 pm

Mark look into a Trac vac .Its aVacuum machine that sucks leaves into a box on wheels .Leaves are mulched too .After a full load you must pull an dump the load of leaves where you want to put them .I have 30 plus oak and ash trees on my property .Saves a Hell of a lot of work in the fall .p m me if confused . jack

 
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Post by EarthWindandFire » Tue. Jun. 08, 2021 10:19 am

Thanks to everyone for all of the suggestions and tips.

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