A garden sweeper is no standard lawn brush! It is a cleverly designed device that is going to be there to reduce the time and effort that you need to put into tidying your garden. If you have ever spent hours cleaning, sweeping and tidying your garden just for it to be a mess again the day after, then what you need is a garden sweeper.
Garden sweepers are basically much smaller versions of those machines that you see at the side of the road sweeping away all the debris and dirt – this makes them perfect for your lawn and even getting in those harder to reach places!
Best Pick – AGM 302 Electric Artificial Grass Power Brush/Lawns Sweeper
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
In A Hurry?
If your garden is looking more brown than green, or maybe you are spending more time raking than you are relaxing – this is the part of the article for you. You need a garden sweeper….and fast…so here is all the essential information you should be looking out for!
Power Type
There are three types of garden sweeper that you will have to choose from – electric, petrol or manual. Manual garden sweepers are obviously going to be cheapest, both for their initial cost and the general upkeep. However, the effort that you have to put into moving them around the garden, you would arguably be better just continuing as you have been doing with a rake!
You are always going to be better opting for electrical or petrol powered models as these will do the hard work for you so all you have to do is control the direction and be prepared to empty the collection bag! Petrol powered models are going to be your most powerful option, they will be large machines that are able to cover much larger surface areas with each sweep up and down the lawn. However, due to their size and price they do tend to be better suited for commercial jobs or VERY large gardens! But, they do have the added benefit of being able to work anywhere so you aren’t restricted to being close to a mains power source.
Electric models are going to be your perfect halfway point between manual models and petrol garden sweepers. Powered by electricity, you are going to have the benefit of a big enough piece of machinery to help you get the job done without it being so big that it becomes cumbersome to move around the garden and store! The average electric garden sweeper is going to collect between 20% and 30% more waste than a manual model. The main downside to these models is that you are going to have to be within cable distance of mains electricity and you have to be careful not to sweep over that cable when you are working! Most are going to be between 8 amps and 12 amps – we would always recommend going for the most power your budget will allow as this will leave you having to do less trips around your garden.
NOTE: There are also tow-behind garden sweepers but these require you to have a ride on mower or quad bike and are only really suitable for larger gardens so we won’t go into as much detail on those models in this article.
Sweeping Style
One of the main things that you need to decide on is the sweeping style that is going to be best for you and your garden, as until you have decided this, it is near impossible to make a firm decision!
One of the main sweeping styles that you will have to choose from are rotating rollers that will have tines attached to them to “flick” up the debris into the collection bag. These are the most simple in designs but they do tend to give you a wider area that they can “sweep” consistently.
The other choice is circular “heads” that sweep into the central path of the machine. These are arguably more effective in the collection rate that they can offer, due to the powerful and fast motion produced by the heads, however reviews do also suggest that some areas can be missed on a first sweep due to the position and motion of the heads! You also need to consider that these models are going to be limited to just sweeping!
Sweeping Deck Width and Collection Rate
The sweeping deck width and collection rate of your garden sweeper are both going to have a massive impact on how efficiently your machine can work and how much time it is going to take to get the job done. If you are wanting to make the most of your time in the garden then you are going to need a wider sweeping deck and a higher collection rate.
The sweeping deck is the part of your machine that is going to collect up all the debris from your garden. Obviously, the wider that this is the more of your garden that you are going to cover in each “sweep” (or length of your lawn). However, it is worth mentioning that if you have a garden that is made up of different areas, sections or has obstacles in the way (such as a bird table) then a wider sweeping deck width could actually be more of a hindrance than a help! Sweeping deck widths tend to start at around 8 inches, but for most average sized gardens you are going to need between 12 and 16 inches. If you are working with a much larger space then there are widths of up to around 26 inches in petrol models.
When you have decided on the deck width that is going to be right for you, the next thing that you need to be looking at is the collection rate. The collection rate is the amount of debris and waste that is going to be collected over each sweep of the garden – obviously the more that is going to be collected, the less trips that you are going to have to do over each area of garden. Some will offer roughly a 50% collection rate, whereas the best models will offer upwards of an 80% collection rate, which means that almost all of the leaves and debris in your gardens are going to be collected in one go.
Collector Capacity
Another main thing that you need to consider is the bag capacity for all of your leaves and debris. The larger the collector the longer you will be able to work for and the more debris you will be able to lift before you have to empty the bag. However, the larger the collection bag the more space the machine is going to take up and also the heavier it is going to become as the bag fills up. Dry (or even worse – damp) leaves can be unexpectedly heavy so it isn’t always best to go for a large collector bag if you think that you may struggle to then empty it. We found a large variation in collection capacity from around 4 cubic feet up to around 15 cubic feet!
Whilst we are on the subject, it is worth thinking about how you actually empty your bag when it is full. Most will have detachable bags that can be unhooked and then emptied into your compost pile or green bin. But, we also found that some of the best, larger models actually have a tilting bag with a “hatch” style opening so that you can literally tip out the leaves and debris, but these are obviously only going to be suitable for people that do have a compost heap.
Best Budget – Draper 21-Inch Garden Sweeper
- A lightweight, yet robust lawn sweeper for clearing leaves, grass and gardening debris
- The 21" working width easily collects the debris and catches it in a collection bag by means of the four height adjustable nylon brushes
- Manufactured with a steel chassis and housed in plastic body
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
All the Best Garden Sweepers Have….
Once you know the main features that you need to look for when looking to buy a garden sweeper, there are going to be multiple other features that you need to think about, especially if you are wanting to purchase the best garden sweeper. Keep reading for our favourite features.
- Multi-functional – If you are anything like us then you want to get the best for your money! If this sounds familiar then look out for a garden sweeper that is going to be multi-functional. Some can be switched between sweeping and scarifying modes so that you can also use your garden sweeper to dethatch your lawn!
- Weight – We would definitely recommend looking at the weight of your garden sweeper, particularly if you have a larger garden to work with. Many are going to range from around 20kgs up to around 40kg which is quite a difference if you are working with them for extended periods of time every day!
- Adjustable height deck – It is definitely handy to opt for a garden sweeper with an adjustable height cutting deck as this will allow you to have a strong collection ratio no matter what surface you are working on!
- Wheels – The wheels of your garden sweeper are largely going to determine how easy it is for you to get the job done! Wheels that are too small are going to be more inclined to sink into the ground and will just make it harder to move around the garden. Look out for larger wheels upwards of 8 inches in size, that also have a good quality tread to increase the grip that you have on any surface!
- Assembly and storage – We would definitely recommend looking at how easy it is going to be to assemble your garden sweeper and if it comes with any handy storage features. Some can be almost “folded” away so that they are more flat and easier to store in your shed and garage, they then simply open and click back into position! This is great for if you already have a lawnmower taking up space in your shed/garage.
- Adjustable handles – We love models that come with adjustable handles as these are going to help to reduce fatigue and back pain if you are working with your garden sweeper for extended periods of time.
- Brush speed control – Some garden sweepers will have adjustable brush speeds which will allow you to adapt the speed of the rotations depending on the area that you are working on, the speed that you are walking and the amount of debris in your garden. This really helps to increase your collection ratio!
Best of the Rest
- Clean right to the edge – Twin side brush attachments clean right to the edge, and for easy set-up can be fixed on without the need for tools.
- Easy to use and store – For space-saving storage, collapse the sweeper fully without the need to stoop.
- Back-Friendly Sweeping – An infinitely variable push handle is kinder to your back, letting you adjust it to the perfect height for you.
- Large Capacity – A large standalone 20-litre waste container means this machine doesn't need frequent emptying. It can also be emptied without coming into contact with the dirt.
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
- Effortlessly sweep-up small or large debris - Including nails, screws, wood scraps, plastic, leaves general dirt etc.
- Two large (53cm/21”) spinning brushes rotate inwards to sweep fine shavings or large cut-offs/objects into its massive 17L capacity collector
- Ideal for your workshop, garage, decking or to keep any hard floor surface clear of debris
- Can be stood upright with the handle bar stowed for small storage footprint
- Part of the Ryobi one+ system – over 100 tools powered by one battery
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Frequently Asked Questions
What warranty comes with a garden sweeper?
As with almost all pieces of machinery, this largely depends on the manufacturer and the model quality. We found that warranties tended to range from around 2 years up to around 5 years. It is worth checking for what this warranty covers though as some will only cover specific parts.
What can a garden sweeper collect?
The main thing that your garden sweeper is going to be used for is to collect fallen leaves through the autumn months. However, most can also be used to collect twigs, grass clippings, pine cones, acorns and other debris. It is worth checking with each model though as some will be limited to just picking up leaves or grass cuttings.
Will a garden sweeper collect grass cuttings?
Yes! A garden sweeper will definitely collect most of your grass cuttings from your lawn! This makes them perfect for if you have a lawn mower without a collection bag as you will be able to use your garden sweeper not just to remove debris from your garden but also the grass cuttings.
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