We’ve waved a reluctant farewell to summer. The days have grown shorter, the temperature is coolerand the leaves on the trees are busy turning warm shades of brown, orange and red.
Though they look pretty perched on branches, autumnal leaves strewn across your garden can be a nuisance. That’s where the best leaf mulcher vacuums come in handy.
Our Picks For The Best Leaf Mulcher Vacuum:
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Gardeners use this handy tool to gather up leaves before mulching them in preparation for composting. There are numerous products on the market, so choosing the best leaf mulcher vacuum for you could be a challenge.
To help you out we’ve taken a closer look at five popular models to see how they fare and compare.
#1: VonHaus 3 in 1 Leaf Blower
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- 3 in 1 tool blows, vacuums and mulches
- Powerful 3000W motor
- Voltage 230W and frequency 50 Hz
- 35 litre collection bag
- 10:1 shredding ratio
- 10m cable
- Compact and lightweight (3.5 kg)
- Shoulder strap for comfort and wheels for manoeuvrability
- Thermal cut out safety feature
- 2-year warranty
Things to Consider:
- Wet leaves can be tricky to vacuum and might clog up the pipe
- Great for a small to medium garden, but might not be so effective when used to clear a larger space.
- Our pick for the best leaf mulcher vacuum
#2: AOSOME BV3405 3 in 1 Leaf Blower
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- 3 in 1 blower, vacuum and mulcher shredder
- Fast and easy to switch between functions
- Leaf blower air speed of 62.7 m/s
- Leaf vacuum air speed of 47.5 m/s (adjustable)
- 2 shoulder harness straps
- Anti-vibration handle
- 60L collection bag
- Metal blade with 12:1 shredding ratio
- 2-stroke, single cylinder, air-cooled 25.4 CC petrol engine (1.0 HP)
- 1-year quality guarantee
- Product approved by GS & CE
- Blower mode weight 6.4 kg
- Vacuum mode weight 7 kg
Things to Consider:
- Vacuum can become clogged by larger garden debris
- Vacuum pipe might need a little manipulation to fit it in place
- Heavier than some of the other leaf blower/vacuums on the market
- Our 2nd best recommendation for the best leaf mulcher vacuum
#3: Hyundai HYBV3000E 3 in 1 Leaf Blower Vacuum & Shredder
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- 3000W electric powered tool
- Lightweight design (3.3kg)
- Shoulder strap
- Two front wheels for manoeuvrability
- 12m cable
- 45L detachable collection bag
- Variable speed (62-186 mph)
- Telescopic chute (9 position heights to choose from)
- 3-year warranty
- Convenient functions/variable speed switch to change modes easily
- Ergonomic anti-vibration handles
- Ready assembled, so you can use it straight away
Things to Consider
- Blowing damp leaves into a pile and allowing them to dry out a little prior to vacuuming might prove easier
- The vacuum copes well with small leaves but larger leaves sometimes clog the pipe
- If you’re tall you might find the pick-up tube a little on the short side
- Our 3rd pick for the best leaf mulcher vacuum in the UK
#4: Terratek Leaf Blower Garden Vacuum and Shredder
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- 3000W
- 35L leaf collection bag
- 10m cable
- Lightweight design (3kg)
- 10:1 shredding ratio
- Super max air speed (167mp/h/270km/h)
- shoulder strap for comfort
- Rolling wheels for manoeuvrability
- Thermal cut-out safety feature
- Easy to assemble
- 2-year warranty
Things to Consider
- The assembly instructions aren’t quite as clear as they could be, but assembly isn’t overly complicated so you should be able to work it out
- The device has a collection bag that’s smaller than some of the other leaf blowers/vacuums on the market
#5: H.yeed 3000W Garden Electric Leaf Blower Vacuum & Shredder
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- 3 in 1 tool to blow, vacuum and mulch
- 3000W
- Air speed: 160-300km/h.
- Suction volume:14 m³/min
- Weighs 4.1 kg
- Shoulder strap
- Easy to use with simple switch to change functions
- On/off trigger on handle
- 6 Variable Speed
- Large 45L capacity collection bag
- Carry strap
- 15:1 shredding ratio
- Detachable tubes for easy storage
- 10m cable
- Easy 5-minute assembly
- Thermal cut-out safety
Things to Consider
- You might need an extension lead to reach certain areas of your garden.
What Is a Leaf Mulcher Vacuum and How Does it Work?
Leaf mulcher vacuums are designed to offer a versatile service, they not only blow and vacuum leaves and debris from your garden, they also mulch the contents into compost. With three different functions, operation depends on the mode you select.
The leaf blower utilises a fan, this causes the blades to spin rapidly and produces centrifugal force.
This force causes air to be sucked in and then blown out – causing the leaves to be pushed away from the tool and in the direction of your choice.
The vacuum works via a motor creating a powerful air flow, this in turn produces suction and pulls leaves and debris up the pipe and into a collection bag. The mulch function works by grinding down the leaves and debris, this is achieved by a blade or cutting line.
Petrol vs Corded vs Cordless Leaf Mulchers
Whilst corded, cordless and petrol leaf mulchers carry out the same function they are powered very differently.
Petrol Leaf Mulcher Vacuums
As the name suggests, a petrol leaf mulcher requires fuel to operate. Therefore, you will need to buy petrol and make sure your device is suitably topped up before you get going.
Fuel bills can be pricy and there’s also the cost to the environment to consider. Petrol leaf mulchers give off ozone damaging fumes, so they are not the greenest option.
On the plus side a petrol leaf mulcher provides plenty of freedom – the lack of cord allows you to travel to every corner of your garden (no matter how far) and there’s no trip hazard to worry about.
Corded Leaf Mulcher Vacuums
Corded leaf mulchers are powered by electricity, so you will need to find a socket to plug into.
This type of device provides you with infinite blowing, vacuuming and mulching time (unless you haven’t paid your electricity bill – In which case you will struggle)!
However, you won’t enjoy quite as much freedom. Your movements will be limited by a cord and you may need to plug in an extension lead to get to certain areas. There’s also the trip hazard that cords present to consider.
Cordless Leaf Mulcher Vacuum
Option three is the cordless leaf mulcher which many people consider to be one of the best leaf mulcher vacuums available.
Powered by battery, this type of device doesn’t require fuel and you won’t have to use your electricity to power it. That said, you will still need to plug in to charge the battery.
You will also need to ensure your battery is adequately charged before you start working, otherwise you might power down mid-job.
A spare battery might be a good investment, you could leave the spare on charge whilst you use the mulcher.
The best leaf mulcher vacuums will last around 30 minutes on a single charge.
We should also applaud the lack of cord. This allows you to move around freely and prevents you tripping over your own cable as you blow, vacuum and mulch.
While we are pointing out the benefits, we must give a shout out to the fact that battery operated leaf mulchers are better for the environment too – there are no toxic fumes to worry about.
What to Consider When Buying a Leaf Mulcher Vacuum
The best leaf mulcher vacuums will help a busy gardener keep on top of their lawn, patio and driveway. If you are thinking about investing in one of these handy tools we suggest you explore the features on offer:
How Heavy is The Leaf Mulcher Vacuum?
The weight of device will determine how easy to pick up and handle it is. Lightweight mulcher vacuums are easier to use but you do need to ensure the one you are interested in is also robust enough to meet your needs.
The best leaf mulcher vacuums strike a good balance between weight and robustness.
Is The Leaf Mulcher Vacuum Ergonomically Designed?
Ergonomic design features such as shoulder straps or harnesses can make it easier for you to carry and handle the device. A telescopic pipe might also prove useful, this allows you to adjust the height to suit your needs.
Rolling wheels can be an added bonus when manoeuvring the leaf mulcher and some tools also boast an anti-vibration handle which results in smoother operation.
It’s also worth considering storage – check if the tool has detachable pipes (this will help you to break it down for easier storage).
How is The Leaf Mulcher Vacuum Powered?
Would you prefer a petrol-powered leaf mulcher vacuum, a unit powered by electricity or a cordless device? Petrol and cordless tools offer more freedom of movement but mains powered tools can run for as long as necessary and don’t need to be topped up with fuel or a charged battery.
We suggest you check the length of the cord (you will need to purchase an extension lead if you need to reach further than the cord allows).
Power is also a consideration – does the tool have enough power to carry out the work required? A larger and more substantial job may require a hardier and more powerful device.
You can also compare air speed and suction volume to give you an idea of what you can expect performance wise.
What Mulch Ratio Does the Device Offer?
Mulch wise the device should state a ratio e.g. 12:1 this relates to the ratio buy which the collected leaves and debris is broken down.
So, a 12:1 ratio indicates that leaves will be shredded to a twelfth of their original size. As a rule of thumb, the higher the ratio the smaller the debris will be, meaning you won’t have to empty the collection bag as often.
How Big is The Collection Bag?
The size of the collection bag will determine how often you will have to empty it. Stopping and starting takes time and can be annoying when you want to get the job finished and get on with your day.
The larger the collection bag the more you can fit in and the less often you will have to empty it. However, do keep in mind that larger, fuller bags will lead to the device being heavier as you move it around.
How Long is The Warranty?
A warranty provides a safety net should you encounter any problems with your leaf mulcher vacuum. Simply contact the vendor/manufacturer and request support. Make sure you are purchasing from a reputable supplier to ensure your device lives up to your expectations.
Are There Any Additional Features?
Have a look if there are any bonus features for instance easy assembly and simple instructions will help you to get the most from your new device. Safety is important too – a thermal cut-out will provide you with peace of mind.
Which Leaf Mulcher Vacuum is Best?
We’ve had a closer look at five popular models and all seem to have plenty of plus points.
All will be able to help you rid your garden, patio, decking and driveway of irksome leaves, so how will you decide which one will be the best leaf mulcher vacuum for you?
Give some thought as to the key features you would like the device to possess e.g. plenty of power, a sizeable collection bag, a strap for comfort, detachable pipes for easy storage etc. You might also have a budget in mind, so do compare prices before you check-out!
The Best Leaf Mulcher Vacuums In The UK
