You might be surprised to learn just how many options there are when it comes to lawn aeration equipment. When many people think about this particular aspect of landscaping their minds instantly jump to aerators. This is not necessarily a bad thought. The one issue that comes up is that there is more than one type of aerator to choose from. Core aerators, for example, are among some of the most popular choices but, in a variety of manual and powered models. Then you also have to look at other options like spike aerators, also referred to as blade aerators, lawn aerator shoes, or powered coreless aerators. These are all viable options when it comes to aerating your lawn.

Even if your lawn is in relatively good health, is never a bad idea to give it an occasional aeration, especially in the spring or fall. There's no arguing with the benefits of aeration which include, but are not limited to; improved water absorption by the roots, improved fertilizer absorption by the roots, reduced water runoff, better grass rooting, reduced compacted soil, and additional resistance to heat and drought. These are just a few of the benefits of properly aerated lawn enjoys. Once you are convinced that this treatment can directly benefit your lawn then the next question becomes: what is the best piece of lawn aeration equipment for you?

Starting with core aerators is a good idea. Among most lawn care specialists this is the most popular option because studies have shown a full 25% increase in the amount of nutrients, fertilizer, and water that reaches the root system when a core aerator is used as opposed to other equipment. Another benefit of going with this type of design is that it does not compact the soil the way that some spike or blade aerators have been known to do. Compacting the soil can counter some of the positive benefits under mentor, was lawn aeration.

The question then becomes whether or not you want to use a manual core aerator or if you want to go with the powered version. For a very small lawn the manual core aerator is often more than enough and can be especially useful when dealing with uneven and bumpy ground. However if you have a large lawn to take care of the there's no argument that the powered version of the core aerator will get the job done about 10 times faster than the manual tool. If you don't want to buy powered version the good news is that there are many places which offer lawn aeration equipment rental and the powered lawn core aerator is one of the most popular models to rent.

That's not to say that the spike or bladed aerator is not a popular choice among homeowners. One of the major benefits of this type of lawn aeration equipment is that it has a low cost and is available at most hardware and lawn care stores. This tool works by using a round blade which has spikes in it. As the spike aerator is pulled around blade rotates and pokes holes in the ground. In some cases when a person has a lawn that sees frequent thatch problems and other issues then they may choose to buy a spike aerator to keep up on maintenance and then rent thatch removal and more serious powered lawn aerators once or twice a year.

Finally, although they are not the most effective method properly aerating your lawn, there are many stores which do sell lawn aeration shoes. These would fall under the category of spike aerators because they are most often a flat panel which goes under your shoe with spikes at the bottom and two Velcro straps on top to connect your foot. By wearing these you can walk around your lawn and give it some of the aeration benefits it needs without really having to go out of your way. This is especially useful if you have a push lawnmower and so you can kill two birds with one stone. While this option might be popular, it is not going to have the same lasting benefits as a larger and more well designed aeration machine. If you choose to use this method as your sole way of aerating the lawn is a good idea to at least once a year pay the money for a long aeration equipment rental and get a powered core aerator.

Related posts:

1. Examining Manual Core Aerators
2. Plug Aerators for Lawns: A Must-Read!
3. The Lawn Aerator Guide

Thatching a lawn is a necessary part of lawn care and refers to the process of removing unwanted and excess organic material which is under the grass but on top of the soil. When thatching occurs on a lawn, it can become thick enough to block water and nutrients from reaching the root system of your grass. This causes grass to become discolored and can even kill it if the problem was left unattended. When you are looking at thatching a lawn you want to find the right tools for the job. Many people choose to go with a thatch rake, which is a tool that looks similar to a double-sided rake but is designed to intentionally get down into the thatch and help you remove it from your lawn. While you might not see a huge amount of coloration difference right away, often times in only a few days or a couple of weeks you will see a major difference in how green and healthy your lawn is.

Manual thatch rakes are not the only tools available. There are also automatic thatchers which are gasoline or electric powered machines which look very similar to tillers, but don't tear up the lawn on that level.  There's a lot of disagreement over whether these tools are the best option or not. Many traditionalists like the manual thatch rake because it allows you to easily adjust for depth and scale depending on what ever particular piece of ground you're working with. On the other hand, there's little denying that a gasoline powered automatic thatcher is going to be 10 times as fast and for large patches of ground is going to be far more practical than just using an old thatch rake.

One of the important things to remember as a cautionary tale is that a small amount of thatch can be a good thing depending on the environment. For example, when there is drought, high heat, and water restrictions a little bit of insulating thatch can go a long way to helping keep the root system of your lawn healthy. Many landscape experts say the general rule from is that about half an inch of thatch is okay but anything above that is too much. If you have over 1 inch of thatch across most of your lawn then it is very much time to take action.

There are seasonal impacts to this bit of lawn care as well. Thatching a lawn is generally best done either in early spring or else in early fall. There are two primary reasons for this. The first is that autumn and spring or seasons which almost never have droughts and high heat. The second reason is that he thatching during these two seasons gives your lawn time to recover either before summer or before winter. Whether you choose to use a power rake lawn thatcher or a manual version of the tool, it is important to know that both have their place and that there is more than one sign which can mean it's time for thatching. While the most common form of thatching along is to get rid of weeds or grass like build up, things like Moss or pine needles also break down and have the effect of causing thatching on your lawn. These can be a major hassle to take care of but the damage they would do to your lawn if left unchecked is even worse.

While thatching a lawn might take a little bit of time and work, the good news is that this type of lawn maintenance is fairly infrequent and you should be able to see the difference that your efforts are making.

Related posts:

1. Using A Lawn Dethatcher For Healthy Grass

Anyone who wants to take the next step to having a fantastic lawn should look at renting a manual core aerator. Lawn care specialists know the power and results that can be achieved from proper aeration of your lawn. While this practice might seem funny to some people, there's no argument that aerated lawns generally look much better than those that are not. Just a few benefits of this practice include more oxygen in the soil, more fertilizer reaching the roots, better water absorption, and loosening of tight soil. All of these benefits directly lead to more food and fuel getting to the roots of your lawn and given those roots the room they need to expand and grow in a healthy manner. When it comes to do-it-yourself lawn aeration, you have to make the choice between manual lawn aerators or power aerators.

Many people choose to go with the manual option because these tools are easy to use, very effective, and the powered versions tend to be commercial models, which are much more expensive to rent or buy. The manual tool is one that you use all standing up and has between two and four hollow cylinders that get plunged into the soil and when you pull the tool out you should see the cylinder shaped holes as well as the small cores of soil and grass, which were just removed from the ground. What might surprise some people is that there are many different designs for manual core aerators. This includes classic models that are often the most popular because they are simple. These are sometimes also referred to as handheld aerators and they should have at least a foot long handle that makes it much easier to push down into the soil and get your weight behind it. That extra leverage makes the job much easier.

Manual core aerators do require some labor-intensive work and a small or medium-size lawn can take anywhere from an hour to two hours to complete full aeration. However, these tools are excellent for lawns which have a lot of hills, bumps, or uneven ground which can throw off the mechanized versions of this tool. The benefit of using the manual core version of a lawn aerator is that some laboratory studies have shown up to 25% more water and food get to the root systems of a lawn when using a manual core aerator as opposed to one of the commercial versions of this lawn care tool.

This tool might be new to some people but you often find the telltale signs of lawn aeration and small towns or cities that use this tool to help make healthier grass and parks, city property, or even city cared for lawns like those you see flanking sidewalks. The most telltale signs are obviously the soil and grass cores which are kept on top of the aerated soil. This is a very common practice for trying to keep grass healthy and areas that do not get the same amount of maintenance as a person's lawn.

A final question you might come up with when you hit the lawn care section of any local store is why is it so important to go with the manual core version? The simple answer is that the core aerators are simply the best designed and will give you the best results. Shoe aerators are often looked down upon by professional landscapers and while spike aerators might work, spike aerators also further compact the soil and pinch off roots while a core aerator has no such issues. When comparing all this information it quickly becomes easy to see that if you are going for an aerator rental that core aeration is the way to go in the manual core aerator is the best tool for the job.

Related posts:

1. Different Lawn Aeration Equipment
2. What You Need to Know About the Manual Aerator
3. Plug Aerators for Lawns: A Must-Read!

It’s summertime and there’s absolutely nothing more you would love to do than just sit by your porch, watch your kids play a bit of football, with your mini-radio playing upbeat music out loud, as you’re sipping on your fresh glass of lemonade. The ambiance of this situation would definitely be enhanced with the vibrant greens that surround your lawn, except for the fact that they appear brownish and thinned out. This simply will not do, considering you’ve been trying to come up with ways to keep the lawn look healthy. Thankfully, thanks to the progression in technology, you can now find certain equipment which will definitely give your lawn a much needed boost in vibrancy. Plug aerators are a type of aerator which is often utilized to create pores or pull plugs out of the soil in order to let air, water and other nutrients enter the soil, thus replenishing your lawn and helping it look healthy and vibrant. This makes for the ideal machine to be used when you seem to be having a rather serious problem with your lawn, especially when it looks rather dilapidated and nearly out of life. Plug aerators for lawns are definitely a must for home owners who happen to have rather large lawns, or even for those individuals who constantly need to maintain parks and fields, where there are chances that the grass may grow thick and plush-looking.

Two Sides of the Same Coin

There are two types of plug aerators which you can find in the market, namely the rolling and mechanically-driven types. Either one of these could prove useful when it comes to your ambitions to grow a lawn which is aesthetically pleasing as well as healthy, although they both have their own set of pros and cons. With rolling aerators, you can actually do a much better job in breaking up the soil and its roots, thus increasing the chances of root growth. Apart from that, they can also roll over rocks or other hard debris around the lawn without any possibility of breaking down. When it comes to the mechanically-driven type, you get the advantage of making more holes, allowing you to boost the lawn’s chances of looking much nicer. Yet, the main problem lies in the fact that this type of aerator does not open up the soil as much compared to the rolling variant, thus seeing a lesser growth of the roots.

Details, details, details!

When using plug lawn aerators, always make sure you use them at least once every 1-3 years, although this is also quite dependent on the condition of your lawn. Besides, not all types of grass is the same, since there are some types which may tend to mat together, thus preventing any water, fertilizers or even a healthy dose of sunlight to ever penetrate the soil. You would find out that, clay soil may compact rather tightly, which results in poor drainage, whereas sandy soil won’t require as much aeration. Apart from that, you will need to take note that aeration works through the exposure of soil to air, which is the very reason why your lawn looks thick, green and plush. When you feel that your lawn is looking healthy enough, you might want to purchase some aeration shoes for yourself. These actually look like sandals, but the soles resemble that of soccer shoes, since they have an array of triangular spikes which can penetrate the soil, thus allowing for better exposure to all kinds of nutrients. These are also beneficial for people who like to take nice strolls in their lawn several times in a week, since they provide the benefits of exercising and are a continual, albeit less powerful, way of providing aeration to your lawn.

No related posts.

For someone who takes pride in their property, it’s absolutely frustrating to see your lawn riddled with all sorts of debris, right after summers. Several leaves are found scattered all over your backyard, and you are equipped with only a rake to try and get rid of them. This is a task that will surely consume a lot of your time; time which you can dedicate to other important matters in the household such as cleaning the kitchen after cooking a day’s worth of meals for your family, or even looking out for the kids when the babysitter’s currently out of town. Seeing your lawn look like it was the victim of a small bushfire (of course, this is with utmost exaggeration), and it would seem like your next option is to call up gardening services to get rid of this problem once and for all. However, autumn is most likely not the only season you’ll see these leaves taking up a lot of space on your property, so you can’t really expect to give the gardening service company a call every time without you spending so much of your savings. Instead, what you should look to do is, purchase a manual aerator.

What is it?

A lawn aerator can prove to be very helpful in keeping your lawn look great and healthy. It serves the purpose of allowing water, air and important nutrients to penetrate through the soil in your lawn and reach deep into the roots of the grass. This would serve as an ideal tool of your lawn shows any signs of compaction, thus giving you the opportunity to restore it to its once vibrant state. You can easily find two kinds of lawn aerators being sold in the market these days, either a power or a manual lawn aerator. These possess long handles as well as prongs which are attached to the bottom part, requiring you to hold the handles while pushing the prongs to the ground, the latter executed as you step on the cross piece. The number of prongs may actually vary depending on the model you purchase.

Who can use it?

The manual plug aerator is designed for people who one cannot expect to use the rake, that task alone being time consuming and infuriating enough. The manual plug aerator provides much convenience, although it can still take some time before you can move on to other household chores. However, it goes without saying that in order to use a lawn aerator, one should be prepared for quite a task, since you will need to have enough stamina to work with it, even though your lawn may actually be the size of half a professional basketball court.

What are the benefits?

The manual hand aerator makes it easier for you to clean your lawn, and is definitely less expensive compared to the power variants. Aside from that, you also get to dedicate enough time on working on specific areas of your lawn without feeling so much as a hint of frustration compared to any other gardening tool. Also, you can work on corners or other areas which are generally hard to reach when you’re using large pieces of equipment.

When can you use it?

The aerator works best when used once during fall, and never during summer time, as it can damage your lawn’s condition considering how extreme the temperature can get during this season. You should also use the aerator when the weeds are non-prevalent. Neglecting to do so may cause your lawn to experience weed infestation, which would be a ghastly sight.

Related posts:

1. The Lawn Aerator Guide
2. Examining Manual Core Aerators
3. Plug Aerators for Lawns: A Must-Read!

It’s annoying enough to know that your property is filled to the brim with a lot of dead and awfully dried up leaves scattered all over the place. What’s even worse is that you only have a rake to use in trying to get rid of these unsightly things, which makes it even harder for you to clean them out of your rather large garden or backyard. You can always make use of gardening services for such matters, but why spend all of your hard earned cash on a monthly basis when you can get the job done yourself in matter of minutes? You may think such a task would be impossible, but with the commercial leaf vacuum, you can easily suck up all the leaves littered all over your lawn right into a disposable bag, making your property look like you just purchased it yesterday!

What is it?

This commercial leaf vacuum is the answer to all your property cleaning woes, allowing you to get rid of those ghastly leaves cluttered all over your lawn. They come in a variety of models, ranging from smaller units which appear somewhat similar to lawnmowers to the more heavy duty models which are very much like large tractors in appearance. These may also come with commercial leaf vacuum equipment such as mufflers or baffles to ensure that you don’t disturb your neighbors next door with such annoying noise whenever you’re cleaning your lawn.

Which one should I choose?

As stated above, these vacuum cleaners are available for purchase in different models, however you still need to make sure you buy one that suits your needs. For starters, you might want to consider buying a unit which contains enough power to take care of all the leaves scattered all over your property. There is a 2 stroke vacuum which is more than adequate for the maintenance of small yards, but if you’ve got a lawn which is half the size of a basketball court, then the 4 stroke engine would work best for you. Also, you need to check the vacuum’s mulching ratio, since you need to take the compression levels into consideration, especially when the leaves are being sucked all in. You want to make sure you get a unit with a high ratio, along with a metal impeller instead of a plastic one, as it is definitely more durable.

What about stability and weight?

There are some heavy duty vacuums out there that can be fastened or joined to mowers or tractors if you want to clean out wide or large areas such as fields or backyards. If you happen to be the owner of a gardening tractor, you can just purchase a commercial leaf shredder with certain attachments that allow you to use your tractor as a vacuum on wheels. If not, then you can consider purchasing some vacuums which are self-contained, making it easier for you to push them around and guide them along a certain path, similar to how you would use a lawnmower.

What are good recommendations?

As of the moment, there are two models which are highly popular – the Cyclone Rake Commercial Pro and the Tow-Behind DR Leaf & Lawn Vacuum. The Cyclone Rake model possesses a 6.5 horsepower engine, and has the ability to generate at least 25 percent more power than any other commercial vacuum in the market today. The Tow-Behind model, on the other hand, makes use of an industry-grade engine, which is manufactured with Subaru or Robin infused technology. Aside from that, it also possesses a fuel tank with a 1.61 gallon capacity and 315 gallon collector capacity, truly making it quite a formidable beast in its own right.

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1. Looking at Commercial Lawn Sweepers
2. The Best Blower Mulcher – Choosing a leaf mulcher and leaf vacuum shredder
3. Lawn and Leaf Vacuums

A lawn requires maintenance to keep it looking lush and green. Thus, some basic measures enable it to stay healthy enough to remain that way. Since it is not uncommon for a layer of debris, or thatch, to accumulate between the soil and grass blades, eliminating thatch, or dethatching, is a basic process when too much thatch threatens lawn health. Of course a healthy lawn has thatch too, but it is usually not more than 1/2" thick. Kept at this level, it is actually advantageous. A healthy thatch height is maintained naturally by bacteria continually breaking it down; this allows a maintenance density consistent with promoting lawn health by preventing grass roots from being burnt and facilitating advantageous water retention.

When thatch surpasses a healthy thickness, often making a lawn look brown and unattractive, it should be dealt with according to geographic region and climate. Primarily composed of grass clippings and other natural materials such as roots and leaves, and often the result of over-fertilization or compacted soil disabling bacteria from reaching the surface to aid in its decomposition, the only time thatch must not be removed is between lawn dormancy and active growth, when low energy stores exist in grass roots. Thus, thatch removal in summer, fall, even during winter dormancy is all right. Consequently, that means early fall or early spring is ideal for lawns most active in cool seasons, while a lawn at its prime in warm weather is best dethatched in early summer.

While aeration, accomplished by poking holes in the soil, helps draw bacteria up to facilitate thatch decomposition, it is not enough when lawn health is duly threatened. Therefore, dethatching is called for, and using a device like a mechanical lawn dethatcher or simply a lawn dethatcher rake becomes necessary to effectively pull up excessive thatch and allow the lawn to breathe anew. While dethatching will obviously help eradicate thatch, there are some worthwhile factors when considering current available devices.

First, while both a mechanical lawn dethatcher and a simpler dethatcher rake will accomplish the task, there is a difference in efficiency and speed. Using a mechanical dethatcher not only proves to be faster but also delivers a more effective outcome. Moreover, a mechanical lawn dethatcher, though more expensive than a simpler lawn dethatcher rake, is usually available for rent by garden suppliers though just as readily purchased as a specialty rake.

When deciding to rent or purchase a mechanical lawn dethatcher, some guidelines exist, not the least of which is lawn size. Although a dethatcher or power rakes might be adequate for small grassy areas, there is no doubt that the mechanical version will greatly enhance dethatching for lawns that are more expansive. That is because a wheeled mechanical lawn dethatcher works by being slowly, steadily run across the lawn, while its blades rotate and penetrate the grass to pull up thatch. The fact that the blade height can be adjusted is a plus, as it enables the tool to penetrate various depths. Further, the space between the blades can be adjusted so that, in a sense, the device can be tailored to the job. Anywhere from one to five passes with a dethatching machine should be adequate to remove most of the thatch

Conversely, for small grassy areas, a handled lawn dethatching rake, similar to a regular rake, might suffice. Manually moved across the lawn in one direction to prevent grass root damage, it resembles a sharp two-sided rake, with wide sharp blades instead of the usual tines. Though less expensive than a mechanical lawn dethatcher, a lawn dethatching rake is, nonetheless, an affordable option even though not recommended for large lawns.

Especially helpful for larger lawns, many mechanical lawn dethatchers are made to be hitched and towed by a tractor, while hand pushed varieties are either motorized or dependent on someone moving them forward. While hand-pushed devices can be effective at separating thatch from grass, the motorized models provide easier use if lawns have a gradual incline. For steeper inclines, a more powerful dethatcher is best, and those that can also be towed provide suitable solutions for greater inclines and larger lawns. All dethatchers, whether hand-pushed or tow-behind, motorized or not, require regular blade maintenance, while oil changes on motorized models ensure continued good performance.

Though a standard lawn dethatcher rake, only somewhat more complexly designed than a regular leaf or garden rake will suffice in some situations, there is no doubt that for thatch that has gotten out of control enough to threaten a lawn's health, using a mechanical lawn dethatcher is advisable. As the process of dethatching also promotes growth of healthy, new grass in mature lawns by allowing oxygen, nutrients, and water to reach deep into living grass roots, there is a dual outcome. Eradicating excessive thatch accumulation and stimulating new grass growth are clearly desirable results. Choosing a device to make the job most effective and time-efficient is a large factor in achieving them.

Related posts:

1. Using the Right Tools to Thatch a Lawn

IRON X! Selective Natural Weed Killer

Below you’ll find general information about types of weed killers, which we’ve all used. Some work better than others, but I came across something that works well and I feel a lot better about putting on my lawn year after year. It controls broadleaf weeds of all types naturally, including (to name a few) dandelions, clover, bull thistle, chickweed, lichens, and all other types of broadleaf. It can be really frustrating and although I've had success with such sprays like Scott's or Ortho, (especially on dandelions) they always seem to come back. If not the same year it's the same fight over and over year after year. So if I'm going to be spraying chemicals like that on my lawn year after year anyway, I figured why not try and find something that was a least good for my lawn and the environment. What I came across was IRON X! Selective Weed Killer for Lawns. It starts to kill weeds quickly, within a couple of hours, and the yard is safe for people and animals once the spray dries. Best yet, it’s environmentally responsible, check it out at IRON X Weed Killer for Lawns.

John Perez- Greatest Gardner Alive!

If you're looking for a natural weed killer plus something that also works as a forceful insecticide as well as getting rid of weeds forever and increasing your lawns growth by up to 250%!!  you can't go wrong with the tried and true methods of famous lawn expert John Perez and his Forceful Insecticides & Fertilizers: Home-Made Recipes program. All natural and guaranteed to make you the envy of the neighborhood with his  lawn insecticide for weeds.

When it comes to spring one of the most unpleasant things is the return of weeds and bare spots to your lawn that until now has been covered in snow. The return of warm weather not only signals the resuming of growth by the grass but also by the weeds that speckle your lawn. There are several solutions that you can take if you truly want to get rid of lawn weeds and they are relatively simple.

The first type of weed removal for lawns is the liquid kind. This is generally the type of weed killer that is used for spot treatments like edges of driveways or flower beds. You should not attempt to use a liquid weed killer on your whole lawn unless you have done your research. There are certain types of weed killer that do not kill grass but they can be hard to find. If you are considering using liquid solutions you should try hiring a lawn service to professionally apply the solution.

Another type of lawn killer is pellet or powder form. This is the most common type used by consumers and homeowners to get rid of large areas of weeds. This is much safer and simpler to use for several reasons. The first reason is that it is harder to mess up when applying this type of weed remover. Because you have to leave powder and pellet killers on the spot for a prolonged period of time you can remove the killer from areas where it was misapplied before it has a chance to do any real damage. There are also types of this killer that are formulated to keep grass alive and only kill weeds.

The third kind of weed killer is combination solutions . These are generally products that are combined with other things like grass seed to help you rebuild your lawn and kill weeds at the same time. Finding this type of weed control is relatively easy and allows you to fill in the spots that the weeds will leave as you take care of your weed problem. These are easy to apply because they do not kill grass and they allow you a fool proof system for making your yard look fantastic again.

There are also some solutions that do not involve weed killer specifically but still take care of the problem. As John Perez points out, you have weeds because you're lawn is trying to tell you something! One popular solution is to but a type of grass that smothers the weeds so that only grass can grow. The problem with this kind of grass is that sometimes it is a bit overpowering and it may spread to other yards around you. Yet another solution is to have your yard re-seeded. This is expensive in that your yard must be tilled completely to kill old grass then repopulated with new grass that is free of weeds. Though this solution is quick it is not completely fool proof. Depending on where you live you may still have a weed or two pop up through the travel of seeds in animal fur and by other means.

Related posts:

1. Best Way to Kill Weeds
2. Plug Aerators for Lawns: A Must-Read!
3. What You Need to Know About the Manual Aerator

We've talked a lot about leaf and lawn vacuums here on best lawn sweeper. Personally I've tried a lot of different blower mulcher combos and currently own a Ryobi model which I hate... it's hard to start always and will be looking at something different this year. In looking for a leaf mulcher, we've considered the idea of a battery powered or cordless model. I own a battery powered trimmer which works well for my sized yard but when thinking about a blower mulcher either gas or electric is more than likely something I'll go with. Over and over we've seen and heard from the folks at Worxs tools. Not only about their amazing lithium powered products and eco friendly designs and features, but from satisfied owners as well. In researching the best blower mulcher we could find, the TriVac consistently comes up in our list so it will be the first one we look at here.

With that said and before we get into a full-blown leaf mulcher review below, let's look at what makes up the basics of a blower mulcher or commonly referred to as a leaf vacuum shredder.

First off, the blower capacity is something to consider. With the advent of the lithium batteries and voltages going well over 18 and 20 volts now, power is less of a concern even with battery powered blowers. With that said, many till prefer to go with the gas or electric models. Depending on your preference, the best blower mulcher for you may depend on how energy and environmentally conscience you are. For me, I hate lugging around a cord, however, I also hate the hassle of mixed fuels, hard starts, and the noise... I like listening to my iPod when working in the yard and so loud gas engines cuts into my serenity. So for me, going electric or battery powered is my preference going forward. Back to the blower capacity. Generally you can expect a range from 150-170 or even higher MPH for a gas powered blower. With that said, some electric blowers deliver higher MPH, as much as 265 MPG on a 12 amp moter. So don't believe that you're going to get more MPH with gas, that's just not the case.

When looking at the leaf mulcher part, the main part is the impeller. Most prefer a metal impeller but it has also been found that even though plastic impellers may chip, metal ones can become bent and damaged just as easily if hitting a lot of small rocks. Recommendations and mileage vary on the type of impeller so we don't have the best of recommendation there. However, the mulcher part is nice when vacuuming leaves as most compost them down to at least a 1/10 of their original size. If you like me and hate raking leaves, this is a major plus. As far as the vacuum goes, and leaf shredder for that matter, obviously the more amps the better for sucking power, however, many times the design of the bag and intake mechanism will have just as much to do with how well the leaf vacuum shredder performs. The shape and design of the intake tube makes a big difference and weight balance can be affected as well. Since you're going to be carrying your blower mulcher around the yard, it helps if the design is ergonomically friendly.

WORX Tools TriVac

Why buy a separate electric blower, vacuum, and mulcher when you can get all three in one with the WORX Tools TriVac. By purchasing an electric rather than gas model, you will be doing your part for the environment. The neighbors will appreciate the quiet operation of this lightweight, compact device. The 12-amp motor provides enough power to blow debris at 210 mph. Adjust the airflow to navigate around delicate flowerbeds and plants. Switch modes and vacuum up to 14 gallons of dry leaves per minute, with a mulch ratio of 10 to 1.

Since the angled tube is integrated, there are no other components to haul. The angle makes it easy to clean under bushes, furniture, and cars. When it is time to empty the nylon collector bag, the quick connect coupler makes the process fast. To free clogs from the tool, just press a button to open the impeller housing. The durable ABS plastic construction can withstand years of rough use.

Details

The WORX Tools TriVac weighs 8.4 pounds, 12.5 pounds packaged.

The WORX Tools TriVac includes:

• 12-amp blower, mulcher, and vacuum tool
• Quiet operation (approximately 70 decibels)
• Flip a switch to convert between vacuum and blower
• More eco-friendly than gas models
• Angled tube provides access to storm drains or under bushes and porches
• Lightweight, compact design enables single-handed vacuum and blower operation
• No extra tubes to haul
• Ergonomic design, soft grip handles
• Blows debris at 210 mph
• Vacuums dry leaves at up to 14 gallons per minute
• 10 to 1 mulch ratio
• Adjustable airflow for working in delicate areas
• Nylon 1.5 bushel collector bag with easy-empty feature via quick-connect coupler
• Clean tool by pushing button to open impeller housing
• ABS plastic construction
• Full two-year warranty
• Consumers Digest Best Buy

Features

With the WORX Tools TriVac, you get a powerful electric blower, mulcher, and vacuum in one device. This electric tool is more environmentally friendly than a gas version and it features a compact, lightweight design. Only one hand is needed to operate the blower and the vacuum and the functions can be changed with the flip of a switch.

Since the tool weighs only 8.4 pounds, it can be used by any adult. Soft grip handles and an ergonomic design enable comfortable operation. The angled tube is integrated, so there are no extra parts to haul. It is easy to get under bushes, furniture, the porch, and the car to get debris, tasks made much more difficult by tools with non-angled tubes.

The powerful 12-amp motor makes quick work of the yard duties. Blow debris at 210 mph or vacuum dry leaves at 14 gallons per minute with a 10 to 1 mulch ratio. Turn down the power by adjusting the airflow, enabling delicate work in flowerbeds and around other plants. The nylon collector bag holds 1.5 bushels and is easily emptied via the quick-connect coupler. If debris gets stuck, just push a button to open the impeller housing and clean the tool. The durable ABS plastic construction and full two-year warranty ensure years of use.

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Most people enjoy looking at a beautiful, lush outdoor area. For us lawn lovers, we realize the strong connection between relaxation and green grass. Outdoor space accentuated by beautiful colors of green is inviting; welcoming you to walk and play on the grass or simply sit down and enjoy the view. A nice outdoor space evokes a sense of relaxation and enables people to connect with nature. Enjoyment of and creating a luscious green space are two separate things. The lawn aerator can be helpful in creating the foundation for a lush green outdoor space to be enjoyed; of course with a little effort.

The aerator, when used properly, creates an environment for grass to grow and flourish. The lawn aerator creates small holes in the ground so soil, water and nutrients can do their work freely; which can be hindered from years of growth and compacted soil and roots. Of course there are different types of soil depending on where you live; lawn aeration can be effective regardless of soil type.  Moreover, the commonality of all healthy grass is good nutrition and a sufficient amount of water. An aerator works by creating holes in the ground, loosening the soil which allows water and nutrients to better do what they naturally want. Earthworms can also move around and naturally do their part of helping your grass to grow organically. An aerated lawn makes everyone happy!

A yard can be checked to see if it needs to have a lawn aerator used by taking a sharp instrument (I like to use a large flat head screwdriver) and sticking it into the grown on a fairly dry day. If the screwdriver sticks into the ground easily and without effort the yard is probably in good shape. This means there is sufficient room for water to soak into the earth and the nutrients are more able move around and help grow healthy grass. On the other hand, if the screwdriver or instrument has to be forced or does not easily go into the ground, the earth is too hard to grow rich, vibrant grass. When the earth is too hard, the water and nutrients simply wash away and roll off the surface, instead of soaking into the root system to encourage growth. A good aeration treatment will help this condition and allow the yard to grow healthy green grass like it naturally wants to. Regardless of whether your ground is hard, it never hurts to aerate your lawn once a year or every few years.

If a yard is small, something as simple as lawn aeration shoes can be worn to create the holes in the soil.  Simply strap the device on you shoes and start walking. What a great way to get some exercise and a green lawn right! This creates the holes for the soil to breathe again. However, this method is not as effective or efficient if you have a large lawn.

With a large area it is easier to use a rolling aerator or a manual aerator. There is really not a right and wrong way to aerating a lawn. It is often a matter of preference. Some people like to do it themselves and other people would rather hire a professional to carry out the service. Rental aerators are even available. Some aerators are to be pushed by hand and others are power driven. Often the size of the lawn will influence the decision on which type is best to use. If a lawn is very large, it is often best to have a motor driven aerator for ease of useFrom experience I can tell you that even though your lawn may seem small, a hand held aerator can work, but will be a chore. I used to have a fairly small lawn and one fall used the Hound Dog Turf Aerator and ended up with serious blisters. The Turf Hound Aerator is a small device with two hollow pipes that you step on and then pull out of the lawn. You can use it all over your lawn at your own pace but it does take some sweat and be sure to wear a good pair of leather gloves.

A hollow tine aerator works a little different by removing a plug of the ground instead of push down to create a hole. Many people prefer this method as they feel it allows more space for growth, roots and nourishment to work and grow. There are several different types of hollow tine types which can be pushed or pulled behind a lawn tractor. These are most often found and referred to as a rolling lawn aerator.

The important thing to aerate lawn is to be certain that the lawn is receiving the much needed opening up. Check to see that the holes are being made. Some people weigh down the hand operated models to create a deeper hole.  While the holes left from lawn aerators are visible for a short period of time after a treatment, it does not take long for the lawn to fill in again. The lawn aerator enables the lawn to get back to the green and lush look that makes people happy.

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