How Lawn and Garden Vacuums Work

When using a lawn and garden vacuum, it's best to think of your yard as a long, green shaggy carpet. Basically, all you need to do is push the machine slowly around the yard, and the suction takes care of the rest.

Just like an indoor vacuum, you'll want to avoid bigger items, including branches, twigs and rocks, that can jam the machine. As you make your rounds of the yard, make sure that your path is clear of any large obstructions. Some lawn and garden vacuums even come with a miniature wood chipper mounted on the side, which will allow you to easily dispose of any stray twigs you encounter. You'll also want to make sure the intake "snout" on your vacuum is properly adjusted to the terrain. When moving over long grass or bumpy terrain, raise the snout so that it won't bump against the ground. If not, move the intake as close to the ground as possible. The smaller the distance between the intake and the ground, the greater the suction will be.

The most prominent feature of any lawn and garden vacuum is the collector bag. While lawnmowers can make do with a relatively tiny collector bag, lawn and garden vacuums come with bags as large as 12 cubic feet (0.34 cubic meter) designed to handle a much larger volume of waste. The collector bags are often too heavy and awkward for one person to lift and dump out, which is why most bags come with a clamped or zippered door to allow you to scoop out debris manually.

What if, rather than leaves and lawn clippings, your yard is strewn with plates and plastic forks from your kid's birthday party? In some cases, lawn and garden vacuums will be powerful enough to suck up not only organic waste, but also glass, plastics and metal. But be sure to check the owner's manual for your vacuum before you try tackling heavy-duty litter: If it turns out your machine can't handle non-leaf material, you'll want to make a good scan of your lawn before firing up your lawn vacuum. Like most yard equipment, you'll want to avoid using your lawn and garden vacuum in the rain or soon after a storm. Leaves are harder to pick up when they're soaked, and you'll also end up sucking large amounts of water into the collector bag.

Before you purchase a lawn and garden vacuum, it's a good idea to "test drive" one of the machines on familiar terrain. Head out to a local lawn and garden store and rent a vacuum for the weekend. If you like what you see, you can plunk down the cash for your own lawn and garden vacuum without worry. Some dealerships even offer "demonstration yards," where you can take a vacuum for a spin. Also, decide whether you need a wheeled machine or a portable, backpack-style vacuum. If you're looking to clean leaves from between flower beds and other hard-to-reach areas, you'll want the flexibility of a backpack-style machine. If, however, you're looking to clean leaves from a backyard or a soccer field, you'll want to pick something with wheels. Some backpack vacuums also come with the ability to function as a leaf blower, which may affect your choice.

You wouldn't hop into a canoe without a life jacket and paddle -- similarly, there are a few pieces of equipment you'll want to have handy before you fire up your lawn and garden vacuum.

All debris is not created equal, and that's why most portable lawn and garden vacuums come with a range of nozzles and attachments to help you move into tight spaces. If you're working in precise or delicate areas like a garden, you may want to avoid using a large intake nozzle that could end up doing damage. Or, if you're picking up heavier debris, such as pine cones, you may want a smaller nozzle to give you more suction. Chances are your lawn and garden vacuum will come with all of the necessary equipment included. If not, specialty attachments should also be available through the manufacturer or your local home and garden center. If you're using a push-variety lawn and garden vacuum, you may also be able to attach a large "wander" hose, giving you the flexibility to suck up stray bits of rubbish while makings the rounds of your backyard.

Lawn vacuums can sometimes be quieter than leaf blowers -- but the fact remains that you're usually dealing with a gasoline engine without a muffler. To avoid damaging your ears, pick up a pair of industrial earmuffs. In a pinch, foam or paper earplugs will do just as well. Ear protection won't be necessary if you have the quieter (and cheaper) option of an electric vacuum, but you'll want to make sure you have enough extension cords to move through the yard. Or, if you only have to use the device for about an hour at a time, you can also do away with the cord altogether and find yourself a cordless, battery powered machine.

Many larger varieties of lawn and garden vacuum will mulch waste as well as collect it. The result is that your yard waste will end up being much denser when you scoop it out of the machine's collector bag. When you used a rake or a leaf blower, you may have filled six bags full of loose leaves. Now, you might find that you're filling only two or three bags with mulch. Of course, the bags of mulch will be much heavier than the bags of leaves, which is why you'll want to make sure you have extra-strong garbage bags if you're planning on taking the mulch to the dump or leaving it on the curb for municipal pickup. Or, if you're looking to reuse the mulch in your garden, make sure you have a large plastic garbage can to store it in.

For lots more information on lawn and garden care, see the links on the next page.