Your property looks beautiful as fall colors come into your trees. But when the leaves start to pile up, it’s time to get to work.

A lawn sweeper will pick up dry leaves and lawn debris quickly and easily, giving your yard that clean and manicured look you want with hardly any raking.

 

How Does a Lawn Sweeper Work?

Lawn sweepers work by using thin, fast-rotating brushes that pick out debris from your lawn and channel it up to a hopper for storage. They are almost like a hair comb for your lawn.

Grass clippings, pinecones, and other small debris will disappear when you use a lawn sweeper. However, larger pieces of debris, like sticks and rocks may require other tools. For acorns, walnuts, and other nuts, getting a nut gathering tool is the most efficient option. You should also avoid using a lawn sweeper on wet leaves and debris.

There are two types of lawn sweepers depending on your preference and yard size. Push lawn sweepers are a great workout as they require you to push them around the yard. If you like the walking but not the pushing, then powered push lawn sweepers are also available which work like a self-propelled lawn mower. In general, push lawn sweepers are best for smaller yards.

Tow-behind, or pull-behind lawn sweepers are great for large, multi-acre yards. You just need a garden tractor to tow it around your yard and you’re off to the races.


Both push lawn sweepers and tow-behind lawn sweepers are all-season helpers thanks to their durably constructed components:

• Polymer plastic or stamped-steel housings
• Tear-resistant hoppers
• Long-wearing brushes

Whether you need to clean up grass clippings in the summer or leaves in the fall, a lawn sweeper will make the job quicker and easier than a rake or leaf blower.

How to Size a Lawn Sweeper

Selecting the right lawn sweeper comes down to looking at three qualities:

• The width of the sweeper
• The size of the hopper
• The style of hitch that connects the sweeper to a vehicle (for tow-behind sweepers)

1. Choose a Width

Lawn sweepers have various widths, which will determine how quickly you can collect leaves and debris. 

Just make sure you can fit the sweeper through your gate. A lawn sweeper with a width of under 36 inches should fit through most garden gates, but be sure to take measurements before buying.
  

2. Choose a Hopper Volume

Hoppers collect the leaves as they're swept up. Their capacities vary by cubic feet. A small yard may only require a 12 cubic-foot hopper, but a larger lawn may require a 26 cubic-foot hopper.

For very large properties, you can even opt for multiple-hoppers capable of holding as much as 78 cubic-feet worth of leaves and debris.

 

3. Choose a Hitch

Tow-behind lawn sweeper hitches vary in height. The height you choose should be based on what you're towing it with. For example, a zero-turn hitch may differ from a garden tractor's.

If you're unsure what height you need, choose a sweeper with a multi-hitch height. This will provide more versatility and take some of the worry out of whether or not it will fit.

Sweep it Up

Lawn sweepers definitely qualify as a modern convenience. After all, you can always use a rake, leaf blower, or simply leave the debris on your lawn. However, if you want a pristine lawn without much physical effort, then a lawn sweeper is a must-have.