Leaf vacuum/shredders, or shredder/vacs, are among the more versatile pieces of equipment you can have for cleaning up your lawn. They’re especially useful in the fall or autumn months when deciduous trees drop their leaves.
Leaving a layer of fallen leaves on a lawn can block sunlight from getting to the grass and trap moisture. This can damage the grass, making it turn yellow from lack of sunlight, or lead to mold and other diseases. That’s why you’ll need a tool to gather up the leaves.
Leaf blowers are a good tool for moving leaves, but they don’t gather those leaves up. A shredder/vac sucks leaves up like a vacuum cleaner and then shreds them so they take up less space. Shredding also makes the leaves easier to use or throw out. Some shredder/vacs can also be used as blowers, giving you a more versatile tool.
Vacuum/shredders from both Echo and STIHL offer powerful two-in-one performance as both shredders and blowers and include all the required parts for switching between these two modes. You can move leaves and other lawn debris with the blower, then quickly convert to vacuum mode to remove leaves and shred them into useful mulch.
Echo Shred ‘N’ Vac
Shred ‘n’ Vac vacuum/shredder from Echo is designed to shred leaves, grass, and small twigs so efficiently that the shredder can reduce the volume of debris by a ratio of 12:1.
The Echo ES-250 Shred ‘N’ Vac has a professional-grade 2-stroke engine and 4 cutting blades for outstanding shredding performance. When converted for use as a blower, it has an air velocity of 165 miles per hour.
It also features a 35-inch-long tube, so you don’t have to bend over or stoop as much to reach the lawn. The 2-bushel bag capacity is large enough that you can work for quite some time before emptying the bag.
STIHL Shredder Vac/Blower
The STIHL vacuum/shredders can reduce the volume of vacuumed leaves by a ratio of 14:1. The bags on STIHL’s vacuum/shredders have a 1.2-bushel capacity, and are easy to empty using the zippered opening. Both models put all the controls on one comfortable handle for easy access. STIHL’s Easy2Start technology and Purge Pump Primer make starting these vacuum/shredders hassle-free.
The STIHL SH 56 C-E Shredder Vac/Blower is a residential vacuum/shredder that is fuel efficient with low emissions. When converted for use as a blower, the SH 56 C-E has an air velocity of 143 miles per hour. The STIHL SH 86 C-E Shredder Vac/Blower is a more powerful model designed for professional use or homeowners with a large yard to maintain. Extra features include an anti-vibration system, a soft-grip handle, and a throttle trigger lock with built-in momentary stop switch. When used as a blower, the air velocity for this model is 154 miles per hour.
Using Shredded Leaves
There are a lot of things that you can do with fallen leaves. You can throw them out if you want. Many communities have yard waste recycling programs that will take fallen leaves. For example, here in Richardson, Texas, you can gather up fallen leaves, place them in compostable bags, and schedule a pickup through the Brush and Bulky Item Collection (BABIC) program.
You can also find ways to use the leaves in your own yard rather than getting rid of them. You can use shredded leaves as mulch directly on the garden, or add them to compost. Leaves make good additions to a compost pile, or you can make an all-leaf compost called leaf mold. You can also use leaves as a soil additive, and work the shredded leaves directly into garden soil.
Shredded leaves are very useful in gardens. If compared pound-for-pound, most types of tree leaves have twice as many nutrients as composted manure. Using the leaves you already have around your home is a great way to save money on fertilizers and mulch while still giving your garden a boost.
Other Fall Tips for Yard Cleanup
As you’re cleaning up and shredding leaves, there are some other important fall tasks that you can do to help get your yard ready for winter. As the weather gets colder, you’ll want to stop fertilizing the lawn. Warm-season grass goes dormant over winter, and it won’t need extra nutrients when it’s not growing.
Fall is also a good time to clean out the irrigation system. Our winters in North Texas are often pretty mild, but we do get cold snaps and ice storms. If you leave water in the irrigation system over winter, it can freeze and cause damage. For any power equipment or hand tools that you won’t be using over the winter, take time to clean them and prep them for winter storage. You should either drain the gas tanks for gas-powered tools or add a fuel stabilizer to keep the gas from spoiling during storage.
If you’re looking for a new shredder/vac or other tools for fall yard care, stop by Richardson Saw & Lawnmower. We’ll be happy to help you find the perfect tool for your yard or business.
