This article will deal with using a hand powered leaf sweeper, although much of the information is transferable to the other types of leaf sweepers, other than a rake…
So here goes, you’ve decided to tackle the mountain of leaves that have built up in your yard…
Step 1
The first thing you need to do is make sure you are armed with the correct gear. You will need standard gardening wear with the addition of a thick pair of gloves for any spines / thorns that find there way into the collection bag. In terms of equipment and apparatus you will obviously need a leaf sweeper, but also some where to put the leaves once you have collected them. If you’re running short of ideas check out the what to do with your collected leaves article.
Step 2
Once you’ve got your kit together and have decided what you are going to do with your leaves it’s time to prepare the area. I always prefer to clear the area I’m going to work on before I get started, instead of barging objects out of the way as I wheel the leaf sweeper along the lawn. The leaf sweeper will pick up twigs but anything bigger than this should be moved before hand, make sure that your lawn is free of branches and stones.
Step 3
You’ll next want to set the height of your lawn sweeper – this is very dependant on the length of the grass that you are working on. If you’re not working on grass, but instead on the patio or drive, you will want it set to its lowest setting.
Step 4
Start walking along, pushing your leaf sweeper in front of you. Try and stay methodical and work in strips along your garden, if you find that you are not picking up leaves there could be two reasons for this; you could be walking too fast so the sweeper is not finding enough traction, or, you could have the sweeper set too high. Slow down first, if that doesn’t help then lower the sweeper.
Lawn Sweeping Method
Step 5
To a certain extent the weather will determine how often you will need to empty your leaf sweeper. What I mean by that is that if it has been raining and the leaves you are collecting are wet the leaf sweeper will become very heavy very quickly; hence you will need to empty it more often. The size of your collection box will also determine how often you will need to empty it.
Tags: brush height, equipment, How To, lawn sweeper, method, preperation, speed
