A lawn sweeper and a leaf blower are both tools commonly used for yard maintenance and clean-up. While they serve similar purposes, there are key differences between the two.
A lawn sweeper is a device specifically designed to remove debris, such as leaves, grass clippings, twigs, and other light yard waste, from the surface of a lawn or other outdoor areas. It usually consists of a brush system or rotating brushes attached to a set of wheels. As the user pushes or pulls the sweeper across the yard, the brushes rotate and collect the debris, which is then collected in a hopper or bag attached to the sweeper. Lawn sweepers can be manually operated or attached to a riding lawn mower for larger properties.
On the other hand, a leaf blower is a handheld or backpack-mounted device designed to blow air at a high velocity. It is primarily used for moving leaves, grass clippings, and other loose debris from one area to another. The forceful air stream from the blower is directed towards the debris, pushing it away. Leaf blowers can also be used to gather debris into piles or blow it into specific areas for easier collection. Some leaf blowers come with attachments that can convert them into a vacuum to collect the debris.
The main difference between a lawn sweeper and a leaf blower lies in the methods they employ to clean up debris. While a lawn sweeper brushes the surface to collect and gather debris into a hopper, a leaf blower uses forced air to blow the debris away. Lawn sweepers are generally more effective for smaller debris or grass clippings, whereas leaf blowers are better suited for moving a larger volume of loose leaves and other lightweight debris.
It's important to note that both tools may have their limitations. Lawn sweepers are not suitable for wet or heavy debris, while leaf blowers may struggle with certain types of debris that are difficult to blow away, such as wet leaves or sticky residue. The choice between a lawn sweeper and a leaf blower ultimately depends on the specific cleaning needs and preferences of the user.
Best Lawn Sweepers of 2024
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Rating is 5 out of 5
Agri-Fab 45-0492 Lawn Sweeper, 44-Inch Orange
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Your purchase includes One Agri-Fab 44-Inch Lawn Sweeper, 45-0492 model
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Set brushes to penetrate the grass to a depth of 1/2 in. (13 mm)
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Lawn Sweeper dimensions: 78” L x 55” W x 52” H | Carton Dimensions: 54.1” L x 18” W x 19.5” H | Brush to Wheel ratio: 5.6:1 | Hooper Capacity: 25 Cu. Ft. | Wheel dimensions: 12” x 3” | Wheel type: Semi-pneumatic | Pallet Qty.: 8 | Weight: 95 lbs
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Height adjustment lever with easy to use indicator will never slip and assures optimum performance
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Improved dump lever can operate without leaving the tractor seat. Entire sweeper folds up without tools saving on storage space
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Rating is 4.9 out of 5
Agri-Fab Inc 45-0546 52" Lawn Sweeper, Black
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An Agri-Fab lawn sweeper will make your life easier because of its exceptional performance helping you clean up grass clippings in the spring and summer, or cleaning up leaves and small twigs in the fall, Semi-pneumatic wheels & metal pinion gears
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Set brushes to penetrate the grass to a depth of 1/2 in. (13 mm)
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Product Size – 70” L x 60” W x 38” H, Hooper – 26 cu. Ft., Sweeper width – 52-Inch, Wheels – 11” x 2.5”, Brush to wheel ratio – 4.25:1, This will work with tractors that range from 8 inch - 13 inch ground clearance
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Infinite brush height adjustment
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Versatile, easily and quickly attaches to all brands of tractors
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Rating is 4.8 out of 5
VEVOR Tow Behind Lawn Sweeper 42.5 Inch, 25 cu. ft Large Capacity Heavy Duty Leaf Collector with Adjustable Sweeping Height, Dumping Rope Design for Picking Up Debris and Grass, 44", Black
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【Adjust to Any Terrain】 The lawn sweeper is designed with an adjustable spinning brush height–simply adjust the lever by hand to move brushes up and down without the need for any special tools. You can use it on any terrain, whether it's a sidewalk, driveway, yard, or garden.
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【Keep Your Lawn Spotless】Unlike most lawn sweepers, our tow-behind lawn sweeper has widened the interface between the metal and brush to increase the overall sweeping force and prevent deformation. With a sweeping width of 42.5"/108 cm, it can pick up 80% of the debris in one pass.
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【Collect More Debris】Our lawn sweep has a high-quality non-woven hopper bag with a large capacity of 25 ft³, allowing you to collect more grass, leaves, and debris at once without frequent dumping. It's easy to empty from the tractor with a dumping rope when cleaning is complete.
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【Store with Ease】Our tow lawn sweeper has an advanced folding design, making it easy to store. Once the yard work is complete, it can be stored in a shed or hung on a garage wall. You don't have to worry about limited space anymore.
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【Cleaning without Effort】Just connect your yard sweeper to a lawn tractor and watch the powerful spinning brushes scoop up everything in their path! It quickly picks up leaves, small twigs, grass clippings, and other dry debris, cleaning your entire lawn with fantastic speed.
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Rating is 4.7 out of 5
Agri-Fab 45-0218 26-Inch Push Lawn Sweeper, 26 Inches, Black
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SWEEPER WIDTH: 26-Inch width
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BRUSH HEIGHT: Set brushes to penetrate the grass to a depth of 1/2 in. (13 mm)
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HOPPER SIZE: 7 Cu. Ft. Capacity
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WHEELS: 9. 75" x 2. 25" plastic wheels
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To learn more about the 45-0218 please watch the Operation & Maintenance video on this landing page
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Push lawn sweeper with adjustable height settings
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Easy way to pick up lawn clippings and leaves off lawn
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Durable, lightweight poly construction
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Includes 1 sweeper and bag
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25 pounds; 7-cubic-foot capacity; 26 inches wide; 3-year warranty
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Rating is 4.6 out of 5
Agri-Fab 45-0320 42-Inch Tow Lawn Sweeper,Black
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SWEEPER WIDTH: 42-Inch width
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BRUSH HEIGHT: Set brushes to penetrate the grass to a depth of 1/2 in. (13 mm)
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HOPPER SIZE: 12 cu. Ft. Capacity
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WHEELS: 11" x 2.5" semi pneumatic wheels
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DUMPING: empty hopper from the tractor by pulling the release rope
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WARRANTY: 3-Year Limited Warranty
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Tow-style lawn sweeper
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Hold up to 12-cubic-feet of debris; trail behind tractor
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Durable, lightweight poly construction
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Includes sweeper and trailer-hitch pin
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42-inch sweeping swath; 50-3/4 by 22 by 15 inches; 77 pounds
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Rating is 4.5 out of 5
Brinly STS-427LXH-A2 42" USA-Made Tow-Behind Lawn Sweeper with Universal Hitch
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Made in the USA: Trusted Since 1839, Brinly-Hardy Company has been dedicated to providing quality, durable, and innovative Lawn & Garden Products.
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Easy Yard Clean-Up: Never rake again! Use your Brinly Sweeper to quickly take care of lawn debris, all from the seat of your tractor. Pick up leaves, grass clippings, sticks, twigs, pine needles, and more. Includes removable mesh windscreen.
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Large Capacity: 20 cu. ft. hamper capacity and 42″ sweep width provides maximum efficiency for fewer passes through the yard and less emptying. Full-swing hamper with pull cord and T-handle makes for easy emptying.
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High-Velocity Brushes: Six high-velocity brushes with indexed brush height adjustment provide continuous material pickup, even during tractor turns. The 5:1 gear ratio results in higher tip velocity, generating more force to lift leaves and debris up off the ground
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Easy Height Adjustment: The Twist-Lock Height Adjustment secures the brush height setting in place, even when traveling over uneven terrain. Height adjusts for use on pavement to high leaves.
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Minimize Storage Footprint: Designed with NEW collapsible hamper braces for easier assembly, and convenient upright storage when not in use.
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Unmatched durability: Features 1" thick 16 ga. all-steel tubes, all-welded steel brush housing, and reinforced poly hamper with UV and moisture-resistant inhibitors for longer life
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Universal Hitch: Designed with a multiple-position clevis for a universal fit, a single, heavy-duty universal Hitch Pin is included to easily attach to any rider or tractor and most any ZTR or ATV.
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For warranty, service parts, or for help at any time, reach out to the Brinly Customer Service team by calling our toll-free number (877-728-8224) or by emailing customerservice@brinly.com. Replacement parts can also be ordered online at Brinly's website.
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Rating is 4.4 out of 5
YARD COMMANDER - 48-Inch Tow Behind Lawn Sweeper - 20 Cubic-Feet Capacity with 48-Inch Clearing Width - 10-Inch Nylon Brushes - Never Flat Tire Design - Universal Hitch for Easy Attachment
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48-INCH CLEARING WIDTH: Quickly and easily adjust your clearing height to add or reduce brush engagement depending on the type of debris.
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10-INCH BRUSH DIAMETER: 4 durable nylon brushes move at high velocity. Capable of picking up Leaves, Pine Needles, Sticks, Grass Clippings, and More.
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20 CUBIC FEET HOPPER CAPACITY: Large hopper allows users to pickup more debris in less time. Operators can quickly and easily empty the hopper with the pull of a string.
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10.5-INCH NEVER FLAT WHEELS: Start the spring clean up without the worry and hassle of flat tires.
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UNIVERSAL HITCH: Attaches quickly and easily to most lawn tractors and ATVs in the market.
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Rating is 4.3 out of 5
GreenSweep Artificial Grass Sweeper Rake Vacuum 45L Collection Bag ,5 Adjustable Heights (GreenSweep V2)
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EFFORTLESS: GreenSweep quickly removes debris, such as leaves, twigs, stones and dirt to leave your artificial lawn looking lawn looking pristine. Simply plug in the power cord and with a flick of a switch, the self-propelled device is doing the hard work for you.
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PLUMPED UP: The 35,000RPM spinning brush roller, plumps up flattened and matted lawn fibres to restore volume and fullness. This not only looks great, but also feels incredible underfoot
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PURPOSEFULLY POWERFUL: With a 1800W motor, the GreenSweep is capable of clearing large areas quickly and efficiently. The spinning brush propels the GreenSweep forward to make light work of your lawn care.
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GARDEN GOALS: Create professional looking stripes in your lawn for enviable grass you and neighbours will love. Select from 5 adjustable height positions to suit your lawn with one simple lever.
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LARGE CAPACITY: The GreenSweep is equipped with a large 45L collection bag that can hold a significant amount of debris, reducing the need for frequent emptying.
Can a leaf blower be used to sweep the lawn as well?
Yes, a leaf blower can be used to sweep the lawn as well. While leaf blowers are primarily designed to blow or displace leaves, grass clippings, and other debris, they can also effectively sweep the lawn. By adjusting the settings or angle of the blower, you can direct the airflow to push the leaves and debris across the lawn, effectively sweeping the surface. However, it's worth noting that some leaf blowers may not be as efficient at sweeping heavier debris or larger amounts of dirt compared to traditional brooms or sweepers.
Can a leaf blower be used to clear snow?
Yes, a leaf blower can be used to clear light and powdery snow. However, it may not be very effective for clearing heavy, wet, or compacted snow. It is important to note that when using a leaf blower for snow removal, it is best to use it on fresh, light snowfall and not on thick or icy snow. Additionally, certain leaf blowers come with attachments specifically designed for snow removal, so it's worth checking if your leaf blower has such an attachment.
How long does it take to clean a lawn with a sweeper versus a blower?
The time it takes to clean a lawn with a sweeper versus a blower can vary depending on several factors such as the size of the lawn, the amount of debris or leaves to be cleaned, the efficiency of the equipment used, and the operator's skill.
Using a sweeper: Sweeping a lawn manually with a broom or using a mechanical sweeper attachment on a lawn mower can take a significant amount of time. This method is generally slower compared to using a blower. It can take anywhere from 1 to 5 hours or more depending on the lawn's size and the amount of debris present. The effectiveness of a sweeper also depends on the density and type of debris as well as the grass length.
Using a blower: Using a leaf blower is generally faster than sweeping. The blowing action helps to move leaves, grass clippings, and debris, making it quicker to collect them in piles and dispose of them. While the exact time can still depend on the lawn size and amount of debris, utilizing a blower can typically reduce the cleaning time. It may take around 30 minutes to a few hours for an average-sized lawn, although this can vary.
Overall, the time required to clean a lawn with a sweeper versus a blower will depend on various factors, and it is difficult to provide a precise estimate without knowing the specific details of the lawn and the equipment being used.
