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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Andy Shaw

Confessions of a serial leaf stealer: the garden gadget that actually made tidying fun

A middle-aged man blows a pile of leaves in a garden.
Gust devil: our writer tests the Milwaukee Fuel Blower. Photograph: Andy Shaw/The Guardian

I love the colours in the trees at this time of year, but I know the joy won’t last. That beautiful kaleidoscope will drop to the ground and create a mulchy brown carpet. While wonderful for soil and many of the creatures that thrive as a result, leaves often need clearing up from our lawns, drives and pavements.

Many of us will reach for rakes and leaf grabbers – tried and tested tools that remain perfectly sufficient for the job for most people. However, for those of you with a larger garden, deciduous trees or a growing disinclination for thankless, laborious jobs (as I do as I get older), I’ve tested a selection of electric leaf blowers and garden vacuums designed to reduce the physical load.

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