Gravel beds are not only enjoying increasing popularity in the front yard. They look attractive and require relatively little maintenance. However, the gravel surface gets dirty over time due to falling leaves and plant parts. The surface can be cleaned relatively easily with a leaf brush. However, a leaf vacuum can make this work noticeably easier and, especially with large beds, scores with an enormous time saving.
A leaf blower works like a vacuum cleaner
What is a leaf blower?
These devices work in a similar way to a standard vacuum cleaner. Leaves and plant parts are sucked in, guided through a long pipe and collected in a sack. High-quality leaf vacuums also have a mechanism that shreds the sucked up plant material. This means that around ten times more leaves fit in the collection bag than before. Unless you want to compost the shredded leaves or use them directly as mulch (€239.00), the organic waste bin will not fill up so quickly.
There are electric leaf blowers and those that run on petrol. In residential areas in particular, the continuous noise from devices with petrol engines can be annoying. Electric models are significantly quieter. However, the cable can sometimes interfere with work.
Advantage:
Leaves and parts of plants can be removed from the gravel bed without much effort and without straining your back, as well as faster than before.
Disadvantage:
Very moist plant material is not always sucked up and sometimes gets stuck between the pebbles. Then you have to rework with the fan broom, which should have rounded metal or plastic ends.
Is the leaf vacuum suitable for every gravel bed?
In principle yes, because from a grain size of about 15 millimeters the stones usually have enough weight to not be sucked up. However, the device should be guided over the surface at a sufficient distance.
tips
Instead of composting the resulting leaves directly or putting them in the garbage, you can leave them in a corner of the garden during the winter. It offers many animals a good opportunity to hibernate.