Joshua Bateman
When it comes to lawn care, it seems as though there’s no shortage of products that you need to buy – from rakes to shovels, mowers to weed trimmers, you might feel overwhelmed by the long list of supplies you need to tend to your lawn.
So what’s a lawn sweeper – and is it truly necessary? We’ll tell you everything you need to know about these helpful tools in this article.
What are lawn sweepers?
If you’re ready to ditch the rake, a lawn sweeper is the tool you need to invest in next. It can be used to sweep up all kinds of debris on your lawn, from leaves to acorns, grass clippings to small branches and more.
There are multiple kinds of lawn sweepers you can choose from, including those that are hand-powered as well as those that can be fitted to tow behind a lawn tractor or riding mower.
If you have a large yard – or even if you just aren’t all that fond of raking each time there’s a little bit of a mess on your lawn – a lawn sweeper is a good investment. It can save you time and protect your muscles from that inevitable soreness you’ll feel after a long day of manually raking.
Types of lawn sweepers [and what to look for]
There are several types of lawn sweepers you can choose from in your search. Here are the three most common kinds.
Push Sweepers
Push sweepers are pretty simple to operate. The technology here is similar to what you might find with a rotary mower. These sweepers are light and easy to maneuver. They’re also quiet, ideal if you have neighbors close by.
They tend to have smaller hoppers, though, so you’ll have to empty the bag more frequently. As you might imagine, the manual nature of push sweepers also means that you will have a tougher time (and more of a workout!) if you have a large property or steep terrain to deal with.
Here are some features that you might want to keep an eye out for to help you make the best shopping decision:
- Size: Consider both the mouth size and bag size of your push lawn sweeper. This will help you figure out how many passes it will take to do your entire yard as well as how frequently you will need to empty the bag. Naturally, a larger lawn necessitates both a larger bag and mouth size.
- Grip: This feature is one primarily to consider for comfort. Most push lawn sweepers are equipped with a single simple bar across the top, just like what you would find on a lawnmower. Look for one with a padded grip so you don’t have to worry about blisters or discomfort while you work.
- Weight and Portability: It goes without saying that operating a push lawn sweeper is going to give you a workout! However, the goal here should be to minimize the amount of work you have to do when you sweep your lawn. Consider the overall weight of the sweeper as well as how easy it is to put back into storage when you are finished.
- Brushes: Look for a push sweeper with a higher number of high-velocity brushes. This will help you pick up more leaves without having to make what feels like a million passes over your lawn.
Tow-Behind Sweepers
Tow-behind sweepers are best for people who have large tracts of property to maintain. They’re also incredibly efficient.
These sweepers are not operated by hand, like push sweepers, but instead are meant to be attached to ride-on mowers or tractors. They have a larger hopper capacity (anywhere up to 25 cubic feet, in some cases) and are extremely easy to use. Of course, with this ease of use and efficiency also comes a higher price tag.
When you’re shopping for a tow-behind sweeper, consider some of the following features:
- Width: Tow behind sweepers are found in varying widths. The width will determine how quickly you can pick up leaves and other debris on your lawn. The larger the lawn, the larger width you’ll need. For a very large sweeper, you might want to look for a tow behind a sweeper that is at least 100” wide, while one that’s 20-30” wide will be perfectly fine for a smaller property.
- Hitch: Hitches vary, too. The height of your hitch will normally be based on what you are towing it with. The hitch you need for a lawn tractor might be different than what you need for a riding lawnmower.
- Hopper volume: Consider the volume of the hopper on your tow-behind sweeper. Although the hopper volume sometimes increases as you go up in sweeper size, that’s not always the case. Capacities for hoppers are recorded in cubic feet. Large lawns generally need larger hoppers – perhaps 70-80 cubic feet, while a small lawn can get by with a 12 cubic foot hopper.
Power Sweepers
Power sweepers can be powered by either electricity or gas. They are also suitable for large areas and are sometimes also equipped with shredding devices to help make the debris easier to get rid of (or compost, if you choose).
Easier to operate than push sweepers, they are also quite a bit heavier. In addition, they also emit more vibrations and noise, meaning it can be a bit more challenging to use them.
- Electric or Gas-Powered: This is the most important consideration you’ll need to make when buying a power sweeper. Electric sweepers tend to be somewhat quieter than gas-powered sweepers, but they often lack the same level of power.
- Sweeping Width and Bag Size: As with the other two types of lawn sweepers, you’ll also want to consider the sweeping width and hopper bag size when shopping for a power sweeper, too.
Best Lawn Sweepers
1. Earthwise LSW70021 21-Inch Leaf & Grass Push Lawn Sweeper
- 21" brush width yard sweeper
- Leaf Sweeper with spinning rake-like action
- Sturdy and lightweight push leaf sweeper with grass catcher design with superb maneuverability
Earthwise is a company that is known for offering a wide variety of eco-friendly lawn care equipment, and this manual lawn sweeper is no exception.
Weighing just 13 lbs, it is incredibly lightweight and easy to operate. It offers rake-like action with a brush width of 21” and is sturdy without being too difficult to push. You can easily adjust the rake height to allow it to work with a lawn of any length – plus, it has a unique grass catcher design that enables you to remove up to 80% of the material on your lawn in just one pass.
It can be used to collect all kinds of materials, including leaves, sticks, grass clippings, and more.
What We Liked:
- 21” brush is ideal for small- to medium-sized lawns
- Adjustable sweeping height
- Convenient to store and extremely lightweight
What We Didn’t Like:
- Cannot be used to pick up pinecones or wet lawn debris
2. Craftsman CMXGZBF7124266 42-Inch, Hi-Speed Tow Lawn Sweeper
- 12 in. Reinforced brushes whisk material into the bag
- Giant 22 cu. Ft. Hopper capacity (18 bushels)
- Large 11.5 in. X 2 in. Wheels with diamond Tread provide maximum traction when towing
Craftsman is a well-respected brand in the home improvement and lawn care sector and this tow behind lawn sweeper really lives up to expectations.
It’s equipped with 12 inch reinforced brushes that will quickly whisk any kind of material into the bag. It has a massive 22 cubic foot hopper capacity and extra-large 11.5” x2” wheels that will cut across any kind of terrain you might be dealing with.
You can empty the hopper from the comfort of the tractor seat. Not only that, but this lawn sweeper has a heavy-duty steel-stamped housing to allow for more weight, better traction, and more efficient sweeping.
What We Liked:
- 42” sweeping path
- Wheels have diamond tread for maximum traction
- Extra-large hopper capacity
What We Didn’t Like:
- Challenging to put together
3. Billy Goat KV600 Lawn and Litter Vacuum
- Large 5-blade impeller with serrated edges to maximize suction and debris reduction.
- Variable height adjustment for hard surface or turf work
- Breathable hard bottom mesh turf bag with an integral dust cover loads from the bottom
Another excellent lawn sweeper to consider is this gas-powered walk-behind vacuum from Billy Goat. At first glance, it doesn’t look like any other lawn sweeper you’ve seen before and more closely resembles a walk-behind lawn mower.
It’s powered by a 1.7 HP motor and is ideal for heavy duty cleanup (sticks, leaves, seeds, etc.) and can even sweep up driveways and patios. It can be used year-round and is designed quite literally like a vacuum.
What We Liked:
- Gas-powered motor gets the job done quickly and efficiently
- Variable height adjustment and really strong suction
- 40 gal bag with easy release clips to empty contents.
What We Didn’t Like:
- More required maintenance due to a gas engine
- More expensive
4. Agri-Fab 45-0320 42-Inch Tow Lawn Sweeper
- ASSEMBLED DIMENSIONS (L x W x H): 67.0" x 51.0" x 24.0" | Wheel Dimensions: 11.0" x 2.5" | Weight: 68 lbs
- HOPPER SIZE: 12 cu ft. hopper capacity
- BRUSH to WHEEL RATIO: 4.5 to 1 brush to wheel wheel turning ratio
This tow-behind sweeper from Agri-Fab is another great choice if you don’t want to have to go through the effort of pushing a lawn sweeper all around your lawn. Weighing just under 70 lbs, it hooks up easily to your tractor or lawnmower and can be emptied from the comfort of your tractor’s seat.
It is backed by a three-year limited warranty and is incredibly easy to assemble. You’ll get written instructions along with a video instruction guide to help you with assembly.
Not only that, but this tow behind lawn sweeper has an impressive 12 cubic foot hopper capacity – you won’t have to empty it that often!
What We Liked:
- Four sweeping brushes
- 42” width and semi-pneumatic tires
- Dumping rope allows you to empty the bag without getting off the tractor
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some customers report issues with wheel durability
5. Agri-Fab 45-0218 26-Inch Push Lawn Sweeper
- Hopper bag: 7 cu. Ft. Capacity; collapsible hopper bag for easy storage
- WHEELS: 9. 75" x 2. 25" plastic wheels
- Assembly: some assembly required; a video instruction Guide is available to assist with the assembly process
Agri-Fab is an award-winning brand in the agriculture and lawn care niche. This push lawn sweeper is easy to use and has a 4.5 to 1 brush to wheel ratio – you’ll pick up all the leaves on your lawn in the very first pass.
Plus, Agri-Fab offers a unique promotion in which you can buy this lawn sweeper along with an electric leaf mulcher for a fraction of the cost of what it would take to buy the two of them together. With that promotion, you can save some serious money on your lawn care needs.
There is a small amount of assembly required to put together this lawn sweeper, which has sturdy 9. 75″ x 2. 25″ plastic wheels, but you won’t find that it takes you more than a few minutes. It comes with a collapsible hopper bag for easy storage – a bag that has a 7 cubic foot capacity. This lawn sweeper has a 26” width.
What We Liked:
- Lawn sweeper comes with adjustable height settings
- Easy to assemble
- Durable, lightweight poly construction and weighs just 25 lbs
What We Didn’t Like:
- Requires some effort to push
There are so many benefits to buying a lawn sweeper that we can’t possibly include all of them in this short article. In addition to picking up leaves, pine needles, acorns, and twigs, they can also be used to clean up larger bits of debris, like sticks and branches. Lawn sweepers can even help you clear dirt, dust, and pollen from your driveway, patio, or walkway.
Invest in a lawn sweeper, and you may find that you actually enjoy taking care of your lawn – and when it comes down to which of these is the best lawn sweeper, it doesn’t much matter which one you choose. All of these offer similar benefits and can help you rediscover your love for your lawn.
FAQ
To use your lawn sweeper, first wait for the lawn to dry. You’ll have an easier time using your lawn sweeper if you’ve just mowed, too – the shorter the grass, the better. Whether You’re using a tow-behind sweeper or a push sweeper, feel free to experiment with the speed a bit. There’s no single best speed – you’ll want to play around to find the speed that works best for your individual situation.
Similarly, feel free to experiment with brush height. This may change based on the height of your grass, but usually, you’ll want to sweep so that the brushes are roughly half an inch below the grass tips.
Try to pick up the large bits first (you may need to do this by hand if they’re too big for the sweeper). Drive straight and try not to make sharp turns – and be sure to empty the hopper on your lawn sweeper regularly.
In short, lawn sweepers are mechanical pieces of equipment that pick up grass clippings, leaves, twigs, and other materials from your lawn by using rotating sweeping brushes that gather debris into a hopper bag. This hopper bag is attached to the machine – when it fills up, you just need to empty it. It’s as simple as that!
In most cases, no. The exception to this is if you have a rear discharge deck, which will pick up leaves well. Just make sure you adjust the height of your lawn sweeper so that it sweeps close.
Although lawn sweepers do occasionally pick up large rocks and sticks, it’s best if you clear large items like these before you use your sweeper. This can prevent your machine from getting clogged – and also protect you from potentially dangerous accidents.
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