We may be enjoying a spell of fine, warm weather, but the first fall of autumn leaves has started, albeit gradually.
The lawns you agonised over through the main months of summer can quickly look scruffy if leaves are not collected. And raking leaves with a tined rake is a sure passport to an aching back.
So here are three machines to make leaf clearing an easier task.
First is a great little value-for-money machine from Einhell, a German engineering company.
The Einhell BG-PL 26/1 Petrol Garden Vacuum / Leaf Blower, currently on special offer, scores over many other machines as you can switch between blowing the leaves into a pile and then vacuuming them up just by flicking a lever.
The leaves are shredded to a tenth their original volume into the collecting bag so you can then empty them on to the compost leap.
It has a carrying strap to make working more comfortable and an additional front handle to make working less tiring.
It costs only £139.95 – many machines with similar features are much costlier. There is a two year warranty from Einhell and we deliver it free the next working day.
Next one is from a leading manufacturer of garden machinery in the USA, the MTD 4SC Leaf Blower with Low-Noise 4-Stroke Engine, on special offer.
The four-stroke engine, gives lower emissions and makes less noise and uses 30 per cent less fuel. The engine has been designed to start with the lightest pull using just one finger.
It gives a 241 km/hour blast of air and can shift even stubborn, down-trodden leaves and is easy to use over longer periods, weighing just 5.7 kg.
It costs £179, £60 less than the maker’s recommended retail price. We deliver it free the next working day and there is a one year warranty from MTD.
And finally a professional-grade machine which produces a terrific blast of air and is a great buy at the moment, for you receive a free Tanaka Vacuum Shredder kit worth £69 completely free.
The Tanaka THB-260PF Commercial-Grade Handheld Petrol Blower-Vac has a 25 cc engine which has been designed for a longer life with chrome-plated cylinder and steel connecting rod.
It is fitted with a high-volume fan, is light in weight and easy to start.
It costs £268, £100 off the maker’s recommended retail price and has a five year domestic warrant, two years for commercial use.
We deliver it free of charge the next working day.
These pages on our site will show you a full list of hand-held blower/vacs to make the autumn clear-up easier.