Lawn Sweeper Vs Bagger: Which One Is Better. Lawn mower leaf collector

Lawn Sweeper Vs Bagger: Which One Is Better

Are you tired of raking grass clippings by hand? Can’t bring yourself to sweep up those fall leaves that are long overdue for cleanup?

Sounds too familiar! Landscaping will wear you out without the proper tools and equipment. All you need to do is upgrade your old hand tools that have seen better days with a lawn sweeper or a bagger.

But which one is better – a lawn sweeper vs bagger?

A bagger is amazing at collecting grass clippings, but a lawn sweeper can do much more. A lawn sweeper is capable of sweeping up all kinds of debris and trash from your yard.

It is the overall best option for people who have to maintain large properties. Want to learn more? Keep on reading! I’ve got lots more in store!

• 1 Lawn Sweeper Vs Bagger: Introducing The Opponents

• 1.1 Lawn Sweepers

• 1.1.1 Lawn Sweeper Size
• 1.1.2 Types Of Lawn Sweepers
• 1.1.3 Pros:
• 1.1.4 Cons:

• 1.2.1 Bagger Size
• 1.2.2 Types Of Baggers
• 1.2.3 Pros:
• 1.2.4 Cons:

• 2.1 Collecting Ability
• 2.2 Versatility
• 2.3 Convenience

• 3.1 When Should You Use A Lawn Sweeper?
• 3.2 Is A Lawn Sweeper Worth It?
• 3.3 Will A Lawn Sweeper Pick Up Acorns?
• 3.4 Do Lawn Mower Baggers Work?

Lawn Sweeper Vs Bagger: Introducing The Opponents

Lawn Sweepers

A lawn sweeper is an ingenious mechanical tool designed to remove grass clippings, fall leaves and twigs, pine needles, and other natural debris from your lawn. You can even use it to sweep litter from your driveway and sidewalk or any other paved surface, for that matter.

A lawn sweeper is equipped with a special mechanism for collecting lawn debris, unlike a bagger. It has a rotating brush hidden underneath its deck that picks up accumulated debris from in between the grass. The brush is made of flexible, soft bristles that won’t damage your lawn when going over it.

The brush inside the sweeper simultaneously deposits the collected junk into a hopper or disposable bag. Using a lawn sweeper is as easy as it gets.

Lawn sweepers come available in many sizes and varieties. Let’s take a closer look at all the options available.

Lawn Sweeper Size

The size of your lawn sweeper should correspond with the size of your property. If you pick a lawn sweeper that is too small for your plot of land, you will have to make more passes to collect all the debris.

On the other hand, a lawn sweeper that is too big will be too cumbersome to navigate around the tight corners of your small property.

You can pick the right size for your lawn sweeper by looking at the width and hopper volume:

• Width: A sweeper’s width will determine how much and how quickly you can collect grass clipping and leaves off the lawn. A 21-inch sweeper is sufficient for a small to medium-sized lawn. For a large property, you will need at least a 48-inch sweeper.

• Hopper volume: A hopper is a reusable bag attached to the back of the trolley. Its size is measured in cubic feet. A 12-cubic foot hopper is sufficient for a small yard. For a large yard, you will need 26 cubic feet or bigger.

Types Of Lawn Sweepers

• Tow Behind Lawn Sweeper: can be attached to your lawn/garden tractor or any large vehicle. As you drive your tractor, you will tow the sweeper behind and engage it in sweeping. Make sure the hitch height on the sweeper matches your tractor before purchase. If you are not sure, pick one with a multi-hitch height.

Don’t have a garden tractor? I have reviewed them just for you. Take a look!

• Push Lawn Sweepers: are manually powered when pushed forwards. As the wheels turn, so does the brush, sweeping up and collecting the organic debris along the way.
• Powered Lawn Sweepers: have a motor that does the job for you. They are either powered by electricity or gasoline. Gas-powered sweepers are used for cleaning public parks, football fields, golf courses, and other large properties. Electric models are best for home use.

Pros:

• Can pick up diverse debris
• Can pick up trash
• Different varieties available
• Various sizes available
• Doesn’t damage grass
• Adjustable sweeping height
• Easy to use and operate
• Requires minimal maintenance

Cons:

• Collected leaves can fly out of the open hopper on a windy day
• Can take up a lot of storage space
• May not perform the best on bumpy terrain

Baggers

A bagger is an accessory for a classic push lawn mower or riding mower. It attaches to the back of the lawnmower where it catches and collects grass clippings as you mow the lawn.

A bagger doesn’t have a special mechanism that picks up the grass clippings. Instead, it relies on the airflow created by lawnmower blades to pick up the debris and bag it through the collection chute.

Vacuum leaf baggers are more advanced. They suction lawn debris through a hose that attaches to the deck of a riding mower. Tow behind vacuum leaf baggers are also equipped with a shredder that makes it possible to fit more leaves in the hopper.

Bagger Size

Baggers are available in many different sizes to match lawns of different proportions. A bagger that comes with your classic lawn mower will have a storage of about 18 gallons, which is roughly 2.4 cubic feet. This size will suffice for a small backyard.

For medium lawns, I recommend buying a bagger that has a bigger capacity, for example, 6.5-bushel, or about 8 cubic feet.

Material collection systems like the TerraKing Leaf Bag can hold a whopping 54 cubic feet, which makes them ideal for large properties. Take a look:

Types Of Baggers

There are lots of different types of baggers available on the market. Breaking them down into just a few types is difficult. Here you can see the pictures of the most popular varieties:

Pros:

• Can be used when cutting grass
• Convenient and easy
• Great for collecting grass clippings and fall leaves
• Lots of varieties available
• Available in different sizes
• Baggers for classic lawn mowers are storage friendly
• Requires minimal maintenance

Versus Battle: Features Face To Face

Collecting Ability

It all comes down to efficiency. How many leaves can a device collect in a single sweep?

Lawn sweepers collect leaves fast because of their wide mouths. The wider the lawn sweeper is, the more surface it can cover. You can find lawn sweepers up to 100 inches wide. Such coverage is achieved when multiple smaller lawn sweepers are paired together.

It is impossible to find a bagger with such a large collecting capacity. Baggers are limited by the size of the lawnmower cutting deck. They can collect as wide as a lawnmower or riding mower cuts, which is typically from 42 to 54 inches.

The clear winner of this versus battle is a lawn sweeper. It collects more leaves at once.

Versatility

Both lawn sweepers and baggers are extremely versatile. They can make the tedious work of raking leaves a walk in the park.

A bagger shines when it comes to collecting grass clippings and fall leaves. The lawnmower blade shreds both types of organic matter to make bagging much easier. Lawn sweepers, on the other hand, are pros at picking up different kinds of organic waste.

They can sweep grass clippings, leaves, twigs after pruning, acorns, pine needles, and even trash that the wind has blown onto your driveway.

The clear winner of this battle is the lawn sweeper. It can pick up more diverse lawn debris, as well as trash.

Convenience

A lawn sweeper and a bagger are much more convenient to use than an old-fashioned rake. Still, one is better than the other.

A lawn sweeper is a separate device that you will use after you cut the grass. This means that you will have to go over your lawn at least twice, once when cutting grass and once when collecting it. This may be a little time-consuming.

A bagger collects the grass immediately as you cut it. How convenient is that! Talk about killing two birds with one stone. You will save on time and gas by completing both tasks at once.

The clear winner of this match is the bagger since it is more convenient to use.

FAQs

When Should You Use A Lawn Sweeper?

You should use a lawn sweeper throughout the year to sweep organic debris off your lawn, but it’s best if you use it on a sunny day when the grass is dry. It is more difficult for lawn sweepers to collect wet grass and leaves, but they’re still better at picking up wet grass than baggers.

Is A Lawn Sweeper Worth It?

Owning a lawn sweeper is worth it if you have a yard with lush, fast-growing grass with trees that lose lots of leaves in the fall. Raking such large amounts of lawn debris by hand is exhausting and time-consuming. In this case, a lawn sweeper is worth every penny.

Will A Lawn Sweeper Pick Up Acorns?

A lawn sweeper can pick up acorns as well as pine needles, twigs, fall leaves, and grass clippings. A lawn sweeper can even be used on paved surfaces to pick up trash. The rotating brush can pick up all sorts of lawn debris it comes across.

Do Lawn Mower Baggers Work?

Lawn mowers work great when correctly fitted and attached to the push mower or riding mower. Lawn mower baggers work best when the weather is sunny and the grass is dry. They are bad at bagging wet grass clippings since they get clogged more often in wet conditions.

Landscaping Can Be Fun

One thing is for certain! Maintaining curb appeal with a lawn sweeper or a bagger is easy. Both tools can turn your once exhausting landscaping chores into a fun and exciting hobby.

But first, you have to choose the right tool for your needs. Which one is better? A lawn sweeper vs bagger? Let’s find out:

Buy a lawn sweeper if you:

• Have a lush lawn that requires lots of trimming.
• Have acorns in your yard.
• Would like to pick up trash from your driveway and sidewalk.
• Would like to have a separate device for bagging.
• Intend to bag wet grass every now and then.
• Have a large property that requires upkeep.
• Have plenty of storage space.
• Have a push lawn mower, riding mower, or a garden tractor.
• Will mostly bag grass clippings and leaves.
• Would like to cut and collect grass both at once.
• Intend to pick up dry grass.
• Don’t mind making more passes to cover the whole area.
• Are short on storage space.

Last update on 2023-05-25 at 05:39 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Brett’s the kind of guy you’d never peg as having such an amazing yard. He’s shy and private, avoiding social media and the spotlight. By day, Brett works quietly as an electrician technician, helping folks with wiring and repairs. But get Brett home to his place in Raleigh, where Nadya’s always dreaming up new landscaping ideas, and you see another side of him. Brett happily rolls up his sleeves to transform their modest backyard into a lush, cozy oasis. The yard’s really a labor of love for them, a place to unwind on weekends, entertain friends, and make cherished memories together. Nadya might come up with all the creative concepts, but Brett’s the one ensuring each vision comes to stunning life. They make a great team, even if Brett’s content to operate behind the scenes. At heart, Brett’s a simple man who finds purpose and joy in small things. Puttering in their garden under the sun or cooking out back in the evenings. these are the things that fulfill him. Brett cares deeply for crafting a space ideal for intimacy, nurturing a life well-lived away from fanfare. Follow him on

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Raking leaves, picking up lawn debris and keeping your lawn looking beautiful is a chore. Not only can it be hard on your back and joints, the tasks seem never-ending. Enter the lawn sweeper.

What is a Lawn Sweeper?

This machine can basically replace yourrake, as it can sweep up leaves, acorns, grass clippings and other debris.

Lawn Sweeper Reviews, a website with the tagline, “No Raking!,” offers honest reviews of lawn sweepers, and explains that there are two types of lawn sweepers: Tow-behind and push.

Tow-Behind Lawn Sweeper

A tow-behind lawn sweeper is usually pulled by a lawn tractor or a riding mower.

Push Lawn Sweeper

A push lawn sweeper is operated manually and is suited to people with smaller lawns or those who enjoy using yard work as a form of exercise.

A lawn sweeper has a rotating sweeping brush that gathers up the lawn debris into an attached hopper bag. When the bag fills up, you empty it into a lawn bag or compost pile. Simple!

Is a Lawn Sweeper Worth It?

If you have a big yard and dislike yard cleanup tasks, then perhaps a lawn sweeper is a good choice because it saves you hours of time (and sore muscles).

In addition to picking up debris, such as leaves and pine needles, lawn sweepers can also help you manage pine cones, acorns and twigs. Keep in mind that a lawn sweeper won’t pick up bigger sticks and branches, according to Epic Gardening, a website aimed at helping home gardeners. But, a lawn sweeper can help you clear out dust and dirt from your patio, walkway or driveway.

“People who get lawn sweepers report that they actually enjoy clearing their lawns, whereas they used to resist and even hate the chore before,” notes Lawn Sweeper Reviews. “The psychological benefits of owning a lawn sweeper are significant, including reduced stress and worry.”

Things to Consider Before You Buy a Lawn Sweeper

Lawn sweepers are available at home improvement stores such as Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Tractor Supply and Menards, as well as online retailers. You will also find that some stores rent lawn sweepers, so you can try one out before you buy.

What Is the Best Lawn Sweeper?

Tow-behind lawn sweepers generally cost 300 to 400. One of the top-rated models on Amazon is the Agri-Fab 44-inch lawn sweeper. You can learn more about it here.

“I have two big pin oaks and a maple,” explained one Amazon consumer. “The acorns are a pain to collect. But the sweeper grabs them up as well as the little spinners from the maple. It also handles long pine needles as well.”

Push models cost around 100 to 200. One of the top-rated models on Amazon is the less-than-70 Earthwise, 21-in. lawn sweeper (shown here).

Lawn Sweeper vs Bagger

“We have two honey locust trees out front,” said an Amazon consumer. “Come fall we have millions of tiny leaves. This sweeper has done an excellent job of picking them up, as well as our neighbor’s large leaves. Lightweight, holds enough, empties easily. Great!”

Best Lawn Sweeper for Acorns

The size of your lawn and the amount of acorns you have to clean up each year will determine the best lawn sweeper for acorns for you. If you have a really large lawn, this professional-grade Ohio Steel 50SWP26 Pro Sweeper will clean up acorns quickly and efficiently time and time again. For small yards, the best lawn sweeper for acorns is this Garden Weasel Nut Gatherer.

Best Lawn Sweeper for Leaves

For cleaning up a lot of leaves, check out the Brinly STS-427LXH lawn sweeper. It features six high-velocity brushes that pick up a lot of debris in fewer passes. No only is this the best lawn sweeper for leaves, it also does an excellent job picking up pine needles and old grass clippings after dethatching.

Best Lawn Sweeper for Sticks and Twigs

Note, lawn sweepers are not meant to clean up large branches and rocks, so be sure to pick those up by hand before going over your lawn with a sweeper. The Agri-Fab lawn sweeper, mentioned above, is the best lawn sweeper for small sticks and twigs as well as other lawn debris. One of the best features of this sweeper is that it can be folded up for compact storage without requiring any tools.

Rachel Brougham lived through a major home renovation in 2019, knows the ups and downs of home improvement, and loves sharing tips with readers. A veteran journalist of both print and television, she’s won several awards for her writing and has covered everything from the environment and education to health care, politics and food. She’s written for several publications beyond newspapers including Bob Vila, Taste of Home and Minnesota Parent, and she currently writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column. Her memoir, Widowland, about the sudden loss of her husband, was published in 2022. She specializes in everything from home decor and design to lawn and garden, product reviews and pet care. When she’s not writing, you can usually find her tending to her garden (both vegetables and native plants), playing with her dog, watching sports with her family or getting some exercise. A native of Michigan, she currently lives in Minneapolis. An avid user of Instagram, you can follow her @RachBrougham.

Keep your yard clear of grass clippings, leaves, and small debris with one of these helpful turf-tidying devices.

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The best lawn sweepers quickly and efficiently gather leaves, grass clippings, and even pine needles, giving your yard a pristine look. The clever machines use cylindrical brushes that reach into the grass to pull out debris, which it then collects in a hopper, making it easy to add the waste to a burn pile or to load into eco-friendly lawn bags.

To choose the right lawn sweeper for your needs, investigate the sweeping path and the hopper capacity as well as the style, features, and durability of models you’re considering. For more in-depth help, keep reading this primer to learn what is usually important to consider. Later on, we will review the best lawn sweepers from our backyard trials. But first, here’s a preview of our picks for some of the best lawn sweepers on the market.

• BEST OVERALL:Agri-Fab 45-0492 Lawn Sweeper
• BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK:Agri-Fab 45-0218 26-Inch Push Lawn Sweeper
• BEST HEAVY DUTY:Ohio Steel 50 in. Lawn Sweeper
• HONORABLE MENTION:Agri-Fab 45-0320 42-Inch Tow Lawn Sweeper

Before You Buy a Lawn Sweeper

Lawn sweepers, also known as leaf sweepers, tend to be best suited to lawns that demand a manicured appearance. But these devices fill up with grass clippings and leaves quickly, particularly in yards with dense foliage. Before fully clearing a denser yard, there are usually frequent stops to empty the hopper, which is a sturdy bag attached to a metal frame that captures debris.

You’ll also need a place to dump the debris, whether it’s beyond a tree line or near a burn pile. Emptying the hopper bag onto the ground and then scooping debris into a lawn waste bag is another option, though it’s far less convenient.

For larger properties that don’t require perfectly manicured yards or properties that have a garden along with a lawn, a riding mower that mulches the leaves and grass to fertilize the land may be the better option.

Types of Lawn Sweepers

There are a few different styles of lawn sweepers available. Knowing which one best suits a lawn’s size and cleaning needs is important. Whether you have a tiny yard that requires an occasional cleanup or a larger property heavily covered in fallen leaves, there’s a sweeper style that’s right for the job.

Tow-Behind

Tow-behind lawn sweepers offer the most convenience of all styles. These sweepers hook to a riding lawn mower, ATV, or side-by-side to pull across a property. These models are designed with capacity in mind, as they’re able to hold a large amount of debris before emptying.

When it comes time to empty the hopper, users may appreciate the convenient dump feature of many tow-behind models. With a simple lift of a handle or a pull of a rope, the hopper dumps its entire contents. Once the handle latches again, users can immediately return to tidying the yard.

While tow-behind sweepers are good for large properties, they might not be a wise choice for property sections that hold water. The tow vehicle can get stuck or cause ruts, and the sweeper can get clogged with mud.

Push-Style

Push-style lawn sweepers are great for cleaning small properties without a lot of trees. They’ll do a reasonably good job of picking up grass clippings and leaves, but they typically take more effort to operate than tow-behind models.

As the name implies, these sweepers require you to push the unit, requiring some legwork to complete a yard cleanup. Push-style lawn sweepers also don’t hold as much as tow-behind models, so frequent stops to empty the hopper may be necessary.

Power

For those who want to get the job done as fast as possible on a large property, a power lawn sweeper can fill the bill. Power sweepers come in both push-style models and sweepers designed to be trailered behind a mower or tractor (just like tow-behind models); the main difference is power sweepers run on gasoline engines.

Power sweepers are usually about the size of a push mower but can come in large tow-behind versions. Like push-style sweepers and tow-behinds, they use brushes, but the brushes spin at a much faster rate. This allows them to accomplish more thorough grooming in one pass than the other styles. Some also have huge hoppers, making short work of the job on big properties.

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Lawn Sweeper

Lawn sweepers can save time cleaning up a property and are available at a fairly broad price range. Familiarizing yourself with their important features will help ensure you make an informed decision. Here are some key shopping considerations to keep in mind.

Sweeping Path

Manufacturers categorize lawn sweepers by the size of their sweeping path; this refers to the amount of ground the brushes can cover in one pass. Typical paths for both powered and push-style sweepers measure between 21 and 26 inches. Smaller-path models will be easier to push but require more passes to finish the job compared to models with a larger sweeping width.

Tow-behind sweepers have much wider sweeping paths—some upward of 50 inches in width, meaning they’ll take far fewer passes than a push sweeper. A wide sweeping width is often combined with a larger hopper, enabling them to hold more debris. This means fewer stops to dump collected waste.

Lawn Size

The size of the turf matters when it comes to choosing a sweeper style. For a small patch of front yard grass that must be kept tidy for curb appeal, a push-style sweeper will be more than adequate. By the time the hopper bag fills, you’re likely to be done with the yard.

Those with lots of land may be best off investing in a tow-behind sweeper. They’re far less taxing on the user and can make quick work of cleaning an entire field. When the hopper fills, the user can dump it quickly and get back to finishing the job.

Hopper Capacity

Hopper capacity depends somewhat on the size of the machine, but it’s still worth considering when shopping for a sweeper. Those who don’t enjoy making repeated stops to dump the hopper may choose a larger model, even for a smaller property.

Large-capacity hoppers measure upward of 25 cubic feet, and that amount of damp grass clippings can be mighty hefty. If purchasing a model with a large hopper, make sure it has an easy-dump feature to save on back and arm strain.

Brush-to-Wheel Ratio

Lawn sweepers use cylindrical brushes to sweep debris up from the lawn and into the hopper. The wheels drive the brushes, which spin even faster than the wheels turn. They accomplish this through a transmission that multiplies the number of times the brushes spin in relation to the wheels. The higher this brush-to-wheel ratio, the more times the brushes will rotate per spin of the wheels.

Quality

As with any tool, buy the best-quality option you can afford, within reason. Most users won’t need a top-of-the-line industrial model, but it might be worth spending a little extra for a sturdy, well-made unit that won’t jam or break after minimal use. The higher-end models often cause far less frustration during both setup and use.

High-quality lawn sweepers feature components made of durable materials, providing for a much longer usable lifespan. Though plastic parts are commonplace, the best lawn sweepers are strong where it matters most, like the drive gear that spins the brush. Also, the highest-quality lawn sweepers have built-in, adjustable brush heights, allowing users to select how aggressively they want their sweeper to operate.

Reasons to Use a Lawn Sweeper

Equipping your yard care kit with a lawn sweeper (leaf sweeper) will save quite a bit of time when it comes to cleanup. It can also offer a great level of detail beyond simply raking or blowing debris across the lawn. The following lawn debris will benefit from a lawn sweeper:

• Grass clippings can be a real hassle to collect. Even when they’re raked into small piles across the lawn, getting clippings from the ground and into a bag is usually pretty messy. With a yard sweeper, raking is unnecessary. The sweeper will dig down to the surface and lift the clippings into the hopper.
• Acorns can be tough to collect—and easy to roll an ankle on, causing injury. A lawn sweeper can handle acorns more quickly, safely, and efficiently than a rake.
• When pine needles collect in a thick blanket on the lawn, they can kill grass and detract from landscaping. Dragging a lawn sweeper over a blanket of needles may take several passes, but sweeping regularly will keep a pine thatch to a minimum.
• Pine cones can wreck the look of a lawn and cause tripping hazards. They’re also incredibly difficult to rake, and leaf blowers have a hard time budging them. Lawn sweepers can help remove them, though it might take a few passes to clear these bulky bits of debris.

Our Top Picks

Cleaning up your yard can be easier with one of the best lawn sweepers. We tested the following models in our backyard lawn sweeper trials, cleaning up grass clippings, fallen leaves, and other yard debris. If you are looking for the right tool to keep your lawn looking great, read on to find out if one of these top picks may work for you.

Agri-Fab 45-0492 Lawn Sweeper

Agri-Fab’s top-of-the-line model cleans up lawns quickly and efficiently. This sweeper uses a 5.6:1 brush-to-wheel ratio, rotating the brushes faster than many other models and putting more bristles to work grooming the grass. It also boasts a massive 25-cubic-foot hopper, which empties easily from the back with a lever accessible from the tractor seat. On our test runs with wet grass clippings, the hopper became too heavy for the 22-horsepower riding lawn mower to easily tow uphill at about half-capacity. But, the large capacity was perfect for bulky, lightweight dried leaves.

Another nice feature is the ability to adjust the position of the trailer tongue, changing how the sweeper trails. Setting the sweeper off-center using this option makes it possible to mow and sweep at the same time. When evaluating this model, however, do consider that it has plastic wheels instead of semi-pneumatic or fully pneumatic rubber tires, which are more heavy duty.

Get the Agri-Fab lawn sweeper at Amazon, Tractor Supply, and Ace Hardware.

Agri-Fab 45-0218 26-Inch Push Lawn Sweeper

All the cleaning capability of Agri-Fab’s larger tow-behind lawn sweepers is distilled down to a compact, lightweight push model. The adjustable-height brush makes it easy to stay within the top half-inch of grass. A 4.5:1 brush-to-wheel ratio ensures powerful sweeping action to pick up all kinds of organic debris, including acorns and pine cones. The 7-cubic-foot hopper provides enough space to efficiently pick up shredded or unshredded fall leaves. In our tests, we noted that the sweeper becomes too heavy to easily push uphill at about half-capacity with wet grass clippings. The sweeper stores flat and is light enough to hang on the wall by its handle.

Although emptying the hopper is as simple as turning it over, which is easy even when full, buyers who plan to bag their lawn debris may be frustrated with that process. There is not an easy hopper-to-bag solution. Leaves need to be hand-loaded into the disposable bag after dumping out the hopper. However, debris collection with this sweeper is quieter than blowing and easier than raking, and filling bags is the same with any of those three options.

Get the Agri-Fab lawn sweeper at The Home Depot.

Ohio Steel 50 in. Lawn Sweeper

The 50-inch sweeper from Ohio Steel is an excellent choice for a DIYer looking for a high-quality sweeper with features and adjustments galore. This model uses a patented spiral brush to efficiently pick up debris. The sweeper features a hearty 4.5:1 brush-to-wheel ratio and 11-inch brushes, keeping clogging to a minimum on the way to the sizable 26-cubic-foot hopper.

In our tests, this sweeper did an outstanding job picking up acorns, pine cones, and other heavy, dense debris as well as grass and leaves. It was also the most difficult unit to assemble, mostly due to the complicated hitch assembly. In action, it was a top performer, with plenty of cleaning power and load capacity.

Rubber tires help maintain grip and brush speed, and users can adjust the brush height easily. For gathering pine needles and light grass clippings, the user can lower the deck for a deep clean. Raising the deck for heavy leaf piles and long grass clippings helps keep the machine from clogging and jamming. Shoppers should note that the tension rods made to hold open the hopper can be a little precarious to install, so be careful and patient.

Get the Ohio Steel lawn sweeper at Amazon, Tractor Supply, Walmart, and Lowe’s.

Agri-Fab 45-0320 42-Inch Tow Lawn Sweeper

Anyone looking to add an affordable lawn sweeper to their lawn maintenance fleet may want to consider this 42-inch model from Agri-Fab. Its sweep path makes quick work of cleaning smaller properties, and it weaves between trees and down footpaths easily. With a 4.5:1 brush-to-wheel ratio, the Agri-Fab quickly snatches debris from the lawn’s surface. We noticed that more acorns and heavier debris were left behind by this sweeper compared with others we tested, although the quantity was definitely lower than prior to sweeping.

A dumping rope helps the user empty the hopper without getting down from the tractor seat, but the hopper is still small enough to maneuver by hand for those who struggle with backing up a trailer. Most users will have to stop and dump the 12-cubic-foot hopper at least a few times before completing the job. The smaller size and lightweight advantage of this unit became apparent as our 22-horsepower riding mower did not struggle with a load of wet grass clippings. We were also able to navigate through close plantings more easily with this unit compared to the larger ones.

• Unlikely to become overweight
• Good size for maneuverability
• Lightweight materials, easy to tow
• Narrow body for easier access

Get the Agri-Fab lawn sweeper on Amazon and at The Home Depot.

The Advantages of Owning a Lawn Sweeper

Owning a lawn sweeper can make yard cleanup quicker and easier, giving a lawn a tidy look you can be proud of. Depending on the situation, collecting yard debris and keeping grass clean has its advantages.

While grass clippings can be excellent fertilizer, the larger clippings from infrequent mowing may be substantial enough to smother the turf. A lawn sweeper can quickly clear up clippings so air and sunlight can flow to the growing grass beneath. The same solution applies to fallen leaves, since letting a dense layer accumulate on top of the lawn can kill the grass.

Hiring a pro to perform debris removal can get expensive. With your own lawn sweeper, you can clean up your yard on your schedule and even make several smaller sweeps throughout the fall, keeping up with the leaves a little at a time.

• Keep turf from being smothered by leaves and clippings.
• Save money over hiring a pro.
• Make several smaller cleanups rather than face an overwhelming effort when leaves fall in autumn.

Tips on Using a Lawn Sweeper

Make the most of a lawn sweeper with these helpful tips:

• Wait for the lawn to dry. Waiting for grass, pine needles, and other debris to dry will make them much lighter and easier for a lawn sweeper to pick up.
• Find the best speed. Adjusting the speed of the tow vehicle will affect how well the sweeper operates. While sweepers do have drive wheels, going too fast might not increase their efficiency, and going too slow might not work well either. Experiment with speed until you find what’s right for the lawn condition.
• Sweep the lawn regularly. Lawn sweepers are easy to use, but waiting until grass clippings and lawn debris pile up is not the best strategy. Using the machine after every mow, or weekly during the fall, will make managing debris easier.

Lawn Sweeper Maintenance Checklist

Even a budget-friendly lawn sweeper is an investment, and keeping it in tip-top shape is a great way to make it last as long as possible. This maintenance checklist can help.

• Empty the bag after every use. Leaving damp grass clippings in the hopper can lead to mold and cause the hopper bag material to wear down faster. After dumping, check the nooks and crannies of the metal components for clumps of grass.
• Lubricate the drive wheel and sweeper. Dust, dirt, and grime can build up in the drive wheel and the components that drive the sweeper, which can lead to built-up moisture and rust. Keep those components moving freely and smoothly with a spray lubricant like WD-40. Spraying once a season should be sufficient, but also spray anytime the unit feels rough or starts squeaking.
• Check the chute for debris. Sticky substances, like pine sap, can cause debris to pile up inside the chute. Such debris will trap moisture that can lead to rust, obstruct flow, and cause other issues. Ensuring the chute is clear is helpful, but wash the chute and treat it with a bit of automotive wax to keep it as smooth as possible.

Our Verdict

A lawn sweeper can do many of the jobs done with leaf rakes, leaf blowers, and mower baggers. The best lawn sweepers have excellent sweeping power, durability without excess weight, and operate easily. Our Best Overall pick, the Agri-Fab 44-inch Tow-Behind Lawn Sweeper, is built to last with a high-powered sweeper, heavy-duty steel parts, and a generously sized hopper that is easy to dump.

Those with difficult terrain or smaller riding mowers may appreciate the increased maneuverability and durable, lightweight construction of the Agri-Fab 42-inch Lawn Sweeper.

How We Tested the Best Lawn Sweeper

The sweepers shipped from online retailers, so the testing process began with assembly according to the provided manufacturer’s instructions. To gauge the ability of each unit, we allowed a section of lawn to grow out a bit longer than average.

We picked up larger sticks and other foreign objects, and cleaned up after our dogs as normal before mowing. After mowing, a rain shower wetted the clippings, adding an unexpected real-life element to the test. We then used the sweepers to pick up the wet lawn clippings and other late-summer landscape debris, including some areas of fallen leaves, pine cones, acorns, and more.

We tested various brush heights (all models instruct the operator to keep the brush tips within the top half-inch of grass), sweeping speeds, maneuverability around tight corners and up and down hills, and dumping ability.

FAQs

Lawn sweepers don’t fall into the common lawn tool category, so not everyone has a good idea of what they do and how they work. If you’re looking for more information, consider the answers to these common questions. If you can’t find what you want here, reach out to the machine’s manufacturer and speak to a customer service representative.

Q: How does a lawn sweeper work?

Lawn sweepers use a transmission driven by one of the wheels to turn cylindrical brushes. These brushes grab debris and propel them down a chute and into a hopper.

Q: How do you empty a lawn sweeper?

Most lawn sweepers have dump functions. The hoppers empty by either lifting a handle or pulling an attached rope. The hopper will open up and release its contents onto the ground.

Q: Do lawn sweepers work on grass clippings?

Lawn sweepers work very well on grass clippings, but some models perform better than others.

Q: Do lawn sweepers work on a wet lawn?

Wet lawns are a challenge for lawn sweepers. Wet clippings tend to clump together, getting stuck in the brushes and the collection chute, so you’re better off letting them dry before sweeping.

Unique Cyclone Rake Features You Won’t Find in Any Other Leaf Collector System

Leaf and lawn debris vacuums can be either a “walk-behind” type where the user walks with the vacuum system, or the “tow-behind” type that connects to the back of a riding mower. In our experience, walk-behind leaf vacuums just don’t provide enough vacuum power or capacity to be extremely helpful for most homeowners. To really get the job done, we recommend a pull behind lawn vacuum system, like the Cyclone Rake. The Cyclone Rake is designed for the job and is both powerful and easy to use with numerous features not found on other equipment.

Here are some of the reasons why we think the Cyclone Rake is the best value in year-round property care.

Folds Up Flat For Storage

Only Cyclone Rake folds up flat, just 8 inches thick, in 5 minutes or less without any tools. You can even hang it on the wall in your garage or shed. Read more

All components disconnect with quick-release latches, simple knobs or spring pins. Even the wheels snap off in seconds. The engine unit rolls away on its own caster wheels. You won’t need an extra garage bay or a barn off season. Watch the video to see how compact and easy it is.

Powerful Engines With A Name You Can Trust

Every Cyclone Rake comes equipped with a Briggs Stratton brand engine. When other companies skimp and use generic engines, you can be confident you’re getting the best with Briggs Stratton. Read more

Built for mission-critical applications like emergency power generation, critical flood pumping and highway safety applications where failure and repair are not options. The XR950-Pro and Vanguard line are a world apart in durability, performance, and easy starting.

The Best Vacuum System, Exclusive on the Cyclone Rake

Only the Cyclone Rake features the JetPath Vacuum system which ensures a clog-free performance using a combination of the straightest path, the Cyclone Rake Blower Unit, and the XR950-PRO and Vanguard engines. The debris flow path is about half the length of other systems, which minimizes friction and increases flow capacity. Read more

It’s not only shorter in length, it completely avoids the hose twists and turns of other systems, which can cause clogs and jams. In addition, all connections are designed to completely eliminate obstructions in the flow path, just like shingles on a roof to shed rain water. So snags and obstacles in the vacuum path don’t exist. Coupled with our Brigg Stratton engines, it’s the best and most reliable you can get.

Huge Debris Capacity

The Cyclone Rake offers a huge amount of debris capacity, up to 415 gallons (55 cubic feet) in our three largest models. So you can tackle the biggest jobs with confidence.

The Miracle Impeller, Your Bulletproof Vest

Only Cyclone Rake features the patented Miracle Impeller, which offers the maximum protection against damage caused by rocks, hardwood or even metal objects accidentally ingested. Read more

Instead of bending or breaking, it absorbs the shock of impact, flexes to pass the debris, then straightens itself out to run quiet and true. It saves costly repairs and downtime that are common with other equipment.

Never Jackknifes

Only Cyclone Rake never jackknifes when maneuvering or backing up. Our unique hitch design makes backing up as easy as going forward. So you can easily maneuver into (and out of) tight areas like corners or between shrubs, trees or buildings. And backing up to unload is quick and simple.

Shorter, Lower and Maneuverable Than Other Designs.

Only Cyclone Rake is shorter in length than any other product of its kind, because it does not need the long tow bar other products use. So it takes less room to maneuver in tight areas, or park in your shed for the night. Yet it has the largest debris capacity.

The Most Models and Accessories

Only Cyclone Rake offers by far the broadest selection of models, accessories and professional upgrades in the industry. So you can tailor your Cyclone Rake to the needs of your particular property. You don’t have to overpay for things you don’t need, or settle for less than your perfect requirements. We have a solution for every homeowner and every property.

Great Mulching Power

The Cyclone Rake’s Miracle Impeller works with your mower blades to reduce debris volume significantly. The mulched leaves, and other lawn debris, composts years sooner and is perfect for flower beds or plantings. In many climates, leaves picked up with a Cyclone Rake are reduced to beautiful topsoil within a year.

A True 12 Month Risk-Free Home Trial

Only Cyclone Rake offers a true 1-Year risk-free home trial, for residential use and a 6-Month Trial for commercial use with no hidden charges. If you don’t want to keep it, we will give you a full refund (less sales tax after 90 days), including shipping both ways, anywhere in the contiguous United States or contiguous Canada. There are no restocking fees, shipping charges or other hidden costs.

A FREE Bumper-to-Bumper Worry-Free Warranty

We understand things come up. It’s rare but sometimes things go wrong and we want you to feel absolutely comfortable in that unlikely event. Our Standard Models come with the XR950 Engine and FREE 2-Year, Worry-Free Warranty. Our Premium models come with Vanguard Engines and a FREE 3-Year, Worry-Free Warranty.