Blower or Broom? How to Get Leaves off Your Patio this Autumn

As summer descends into autumn, we get a beautiful burst of colour from the trees. The beautiful display of gold and russet and scarlet and ochre is all very well whilst the leaves are clinging on to the branches. However, after a few puffs from the North wind, the trees in your garden will happily dump their foliage onto your patio. What is the best way to keep your patio and lawn leaf-free this autumn?

The Old: Rake and Sweep

This is the traditional approach to leaf clearance. A grass rake is a very effective tool for clearing leaves from your lawn. For your patio, a stiff bristled yard broom should be used to sweep up any leaves and debris. Both these tools are effective, but labour intensive. You might be able to persuade your teenager that the chore is a good workout, but chances are that they will want paying for their time.

The New: Leaf Blower

A traditional petrol-powered leaf blower is a machine that does exactly what its name suggests. It blows leaves. This is a quick and fun way to get all your garden leaves into a pile from which they can easily be transferred to your compost. Your teenager will probably be prepared to use this tool for free, but may need supervision to ensure that the leaves aren’t just blown into your neighbour’s garden.

The Alternative: Garden Vacuum

A lot of leaf blowers are sold as dual blower/vacuums. Whether this tool is any use to you really depends on the size of your garden and how many leaves get dumped into it. For a quick tidy up, a garden vacuum is a useful tool. For any major dump of autumn leaves, you are going to spend more time emptying the thing than clearing up.

If you discover any cracked or wobbly tiles beneath the autumn leaves, then get in touch with us. At Knights Paving and Landscaping, we offer a full restoration service that will have your patio looking as good as when it was first installed.

For regular gardening and patio maintenance tips, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.