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Lawn Sweepers: Worth It or Waste of Space?
Updated on Oct. 31, 2024
Raking leaves, picking up lawn debris and keeping your lawn looking clean and neat is a seemingly endless chore. Not only can it be hard on your back and joints, but it’s time consuming, leaving you little free time on weekends. In a quest to circumvent lawn cleanup, or at least make it a bit faster and easier, lawn sweepers may come up as a popular option. These handy tools promise to make quick work of leaves, grass clippings and other light debris on your lawn, but are they really worth the investment?
In this article, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of lawn sweepers to help you decide if this is a lawn care tool you can’t do without or one you should skip. Whether you’re a weekend warrior looking for a shortcut, or a meticulous gardener looking for perfection, learn all about lawn sweepers, with input from Tom Perron of Boyden and Perron, an outdoor power equipment retailer.
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Is a lawn sweeper worth it?
If you have a big yard and dislike yard cleanup tasks, then perhaps a lawn sweeper is a good choice because it can save you hours of time (and sore muscles).
However, for lawn sweepers to be effective, a few conditions have to be in place first. “Lawn sweepers are most effective on short grass,” Perron says, so you’ll want to keep your grass trimmed. “They also don’t do well in deep leaves, but can pick up a light coating of leaves,” he adds. So, if you’re expecting lots of leaves during your fall cleanup, you’ll need to use the lawn sweeper frequently to prevent them from piling up, which may not be a time saver in the end. “As most lawn mowers are now bagging mowers, lawn sweepers are usually overlooked,” Perron says.
But lawn sweepers are not all bad. They can be effective at cleaning up pine needles, grass clippings, light leaf litter and small twigs. While they will not pick up sticks and branches, most models can pick up freshly fallen acorns. Another lawn sweeper benefit is one can also help you clear out dust and dirt from your patio, walkway or driveway.
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Best Lawn Sweeper Overall
Agri-Fab 44-inch
Tow-behind lawn sweepers generally cost $300 to $400. One of the top-rated models on Amazon is the Agri-Fab 44-inch lawn sweeper.
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Best Push Lawn Sweeper
Earthwise 21-inch
Push models cost around $100 to $200. One of the top-rated models on Amazon is the less-than-$70.
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Best Lawn Sweeper for Acorns
Ohio Steel 42-inch
If you have a really large lawn, this professional-grade Ohio Steel 50SWP26 Pro Sweeper will clean up acorns quickly and efficiently time and time again.
The size of your lawn and the amount of acorns you have to clean up each year will determine the best lawn sweeper for acorns for you. For small yards, the best lawn sweeper for acorns is this Garden Weasel Nut Gatherer.
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Best Lawn Sweeper for Leaves
Brinly 42-inch
For cleaning up a lot of leaves, this features six high-velocity brushes that pick up a lot of debris in fewer passes.
Not only is this the best lawn sweeper for leaves, it also does an excellent job picking up pine needles and old grass clippings after dethatching.
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Best Lawn Sweeper for Sticks and Twigs
Agri-Fab 44-inch
Tow-behind lawn sweepers generally cost $300 to $400. One of the top-rated models on Amazon is the Agri-Fab 44-inch lawn sweeper.
Note, lawn sweepers are not meant to clean up large branches and rocks, so be sure to pick those up by hand before going over your lawn with a sweeper. The Agri-Fab lawn sweeper, mentioned above, is the best lawn sweeper for small sticks and twigs as well as other lawn debris. One of the best features of this sweeper is that it can be folded up for compact storage without requiring any tools.
Types of Lawn Sweepers
Tow-Behind Lawn Sweeper
A tow-behind lawn sweeper is usually pulled by a lawn tractor or a riding mower.
Push Lawn Sweeper
A push lawn sweeper is operated manually and is suited to people with smaller lawns or those who enjoy using yard work as a form of exercise.
A lawn sweeper has a rotating sweeping brush that gathers up the lawn debris into an attached hopper bag. When the bag fills up, you empty it into a lawn bag or compost pile. Simple!
What to Consider When Buying a Lawn Sweeper
Lawn sweepers are available at home improvement stores such as Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Tractor Supply and Menards, and online retailers. Some stores rent them, so you can try them out before buying.
About the Expert
- Tom Perron is a second-generation owner of Boyden and Perron, an outdoor power equipment retailer in Amherst, Massachusetts.
