How to Use a Leaf Blower
If you’ve just bought a leaf blower for the first time you may be tempted to just whip it out and start blowing those dead leaves out of your yard. But before you pull out your new leaf blower, read these tips on how to use it safely and accurately to ensure that you get the best use out of it.
Before You Begin
Before you start blowing leaves around, there are a few things you need to do/consider first. Making sure you do these things first will ensure that you are working efficiently and safely and that you get the best use out of your leaf blower.
Check the weather
It’s best to use a leaf blower when the day is calm. If you try to gather your leaves when it’s windy you will just end up with leaves in places where you didn’t want them to go.
Make sure the leaves are dry
If your leaves are wet after rain or snow, give them a few days to dry off as much as possible. Wet leaves won’t move as easily as dry ones.
Chose a landing spot
Chose a place where you want all of the leaves to end up. A tarp in the corner of your yard makes it easy to transport the leaves when you’re done. Chose a place that you can access from all sides of your yard in one direction.
Have rake on hand
Even though you’ll be using a leaf blower, you’ll still need a rake to condense your pile and gather up any stray leaves that the leaf blower missed.
Gear up
Since a leaf blower is a power tool make sure you have the proper protective gear on before you start. Put on closed-toed shoes, long sleeves, and long pants. Wear protective eyewear to protect your eyes from debris and leaves that fly up.
It’s a good idea to wear earplugs or earmuffs if you think your ears will be sensitive to the loud noises of the leaf blower.
How to Use Your Leaf Blower
Once you’ve made your plan and gathered your gear, it’s time to start blowing those leaves. Follow these tips for optimum results.
- Start at the farthest corner from your designated pile
- Blow the leaves in one direction to keep leaves out of areas you’ve already worked on
- Hold the blower down by your side at a shallow angle
- Sweep the nozzle back in forth in a gentle “U” shape and use a smooth motion
- Work slowly
Vacuum Mode
Once you’ve gathered your leaves into a pile, you can use vacuum mode to gather up any stray leaves that didn’t make it to the pile.
You can also use vacuum mode to clean up areas that are hard to access or where a rake won’t work, like a patio or garden bed, or around plants.
Vacuum mode works best on smaller piles of leaves, so save the big pile for your rake.