How to use a lawn sweeper

Dec 21, 2023

How to use a lawn sweeper

by: Peter McPherson, BestReviews Staff

Posted: Jun 3, 2023 / 02:20 AM MDT

Updated: Jun 3, 2023 / 02:20 AM MDT

IN THIS ARTICLE:

For some people, raking is just an enjoyable task that comes with autumn. But for the rest of us, it's a dreaded chore that you have to do again and again.

Lawn sweepers offer a much faster and simpler way to collect leaves and grass clippings than raking and they come in handy in the spring and summer as well. You can use these manually or pull them behind a tractor or lawn mower. Both styles work similarly by picking up debris and depositing it in a hopper.

When it comes to leaf collection tools, lawn sweepers are more expensive than rakes and leaf blowers. However, they are extremely efficient and don't require too much effort.

Lawn sweepers work by pulling leaves into a hopper with a rotating brush. You can use them in the spring, summer and fall to collect debris in your yard. In spring and summer, they can pick up twigs and grass clippings, while in fall, they scoop up leaves.

There are two types of lawn sweepers: manual (push) and tow-behind. Tow-behind sweepers are far more expensive, but they make quicker work of a leaf-covered yard.

There are a handful of times you can use a lawn sweeper:

Lawn sweepers work best on freshly mowed lawns. If you’re mowing the grass and cleaning up leaves, you can mow right over the leaves you plan to sweep. Small leaf bits provide nutrients to grass, but the sweeper will pick up bigger pieces.

As with any yard work, you should always wear safety glasses to protect your eyes. Then, either attach the sweeper securely to your tractor or riding lawn mower, or grab hold of the handle, and move to an edge or corner of your lawn as you would when mowing.

Adjust the brush height so that it's just above the grass without touching it. Now you’re ready to start sweeping. While you push or tow, the wheels will drive gears that spin the brush to take in leaves and other debris. Empty the hopper as soon as it fills up to keep the sweeper working efficiently.

Besides deciding which type of sweeper is right for you, consider additional features and the needs of your yard.

Agri-Fab 44-inch Lawn Sweeper

This large tow sweeper has a spacious 25-cubic-foot hopper and a 5-to-1 brush-to-wheel ratio for efficient sweeping. The dump handle allows you to deposit debris without getting up.

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Agri-Fab 52-inch Lawn Sweeper

With 26 cubic feet of room in the hopper and a 52-inch sweeping width, this is one of the biggest models available. Assembly is straightforward, and the brush can sweep up both small and large objects.

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Ohio Steel Pro Sweeper

Though it's less expensive than competing models of a similar size, this well-built sweeper is sturdy and thorough.

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Scotts 26-Inch Push Lawn Sweeper

The plastic design of this lawn sweeper makes it lightweight and easy to maneuver, especially if your grass is short.

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Agri-Fab 26-Inch Push Lawn Sweeper

For its size, this lawn sweeper does an excellent job of picking up most debris on the first pass. It can grab larger objects with ease too.

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Craftsman 42-Inch High-Speed Tow Lawn Sweeper

The 8.5-to-1 brush-to-wheel ratio rotates faster than the brush of similar competing sweepers. The metal parts are sturdy, and assembly is simple compared to many sweepers.

Sold by Amazon

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Peter McPherson writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.

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