Clearing endless piles of leaves from the lawn and flower beds must be one of the worst gardening jobs.
Collecting leaves with a rake and collecting them manually is tiresome and a pain when you’re trying to pull them away from gravel paths or from plant pots. It also takes an age and like housework, it’s a thankless task as it all needs doing again before you know it.
Thank goodness for the garden vacuum, then. This little beauty sucks up the leaves depositing them into the attached collection bag. The vacuum shreds leaves too, mulching them into little pieces ready for the compost heap. You’ll also find many models have a blower function so you can gather the leaves into a pile before vacuuming them up – easy peasy.
Whether you opt for a corded or cordless model is down to personal preference and the size of your garden. Most vacuums have an average power cable length of 10m, though a few are longer, which will prove useful if you’re lucky enough to have lots of outdoor space. If you have a large outdoor space to clear you may need to use an extension cable.
The advantage of cordless garden vacs is you’re not limited to the length of the cable – though of course, you are limited to the capacity of the battery. Cordless models are generally pricier than their plug-in counterparts and you may have to buy a battery and charger separately, which adds to the overall cost. That said, once you have the battery and charger they should fit other tools from the same brand.
Do I need a garden vacuum?
While not a required tool for the modern gardener, a vacuum is a handy piece of gardening equipment to own. Leaving the leaves where they fall is not really an option.
“During autumn, it may seem easier to leave fallen leaves on your lawn, but doing so can be detrimental to the health of your lawn and plants,” says Peter Chaloner, managing director of Cobra Garden Machinery.
“With shorter days and cloudier weather, it is especially important to keep your garden clear throughout autumn and winter. Damp leaves left on the grass for extended periods can also become matted and cause thatch, promoting the growth of fungus, so removing leaves frequently can prevent future problems like weeds and moss,” he explains.
“By regularly making the effort to clear garden debris, you can save time and avoid potential issues in the future.”
What to look for in a garden vacuum?
First and foremost, the power of the motor – can it handle sucking up wet leaves as well as dry, or does it just tickle them, leaving them on the ground?
Are the mulching blades metal or plastic? Go for metal if possible as it lasts longer.
Check airflow speed and note if it can be adjusted – variable speed control is handy to have – and also check the air volume; the higher, the better. All vacuums should come with a collection bag but it’s worth checking how easy it is to empty. A zipper at the base will make life much easier.
Ergonomic handles, wheels underneath the tube at the front and a shoulder strap all increase the comfort factor while you’re using the machine; some garden vacs are also height-adjustable, which helps prevent back pain.
Noise levels
These are noisy machines so you’d do well to wear ear protectors or ear plugs while working. Goggles are also a good idea as they prevent leaves and twig debris from getting in the eyes. And stay on good terms with your neighbours by vacuuming in sociable hours.
Wildlife warning
Many little creatures live in your garden; make sure they’re not hiding in the pile of leaves before you get started.
Best garden vacuums at a glance
- Best overall: Hyundai HYBV3000E - £49.98, Amazon
- Best for the budget-conscious: VonHaus Leaf Blower and Vacuum 3000W - £44.99, VonHaus
- Best for cordless: Cobra BV6040VZ - £99.99, Just Lawnmowers
- Best for high-power, with cable: Flymo PowerVac 3000 - £63.20, Amazon
- Best for smaller gardens: Draper Garden Vacuum, Blower and Mulcher 3000W - £57.95, Amazon
- Best for large gardens: Black & Decker BEBLV301 Leaf Vacuum and Blower - £109.99, Amazon
- Best for turbo boost: Kärcher BLV 18-200 Cordless Leaf Vac - £209.99, Amazon
- Best non-vac leaf collector: Gardena leaf and grass collector - £151.20, Amazon
- Best petrol vacuum: McCulloch GBV 322 VX - £184.99, Amazon
- Best for quiet: Stihl SHE 71 Electric Vacuum Shredder - £189.89, Amazon
- Best for high-power cordless: Ryobi 18V ONE+ Cordless Brushless HP Blower-Vac - £205.99, Ryobi
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Hyundai HYBV3000E
- Best for: Overall
- Electric or petrol: electric
- Bag capacity: 45L
- Weight: 3.3kg
- Cable length: 12m
Hyundai’s HYBV3000E has the look of a household vacuum in that is an upright design, which could be beneficial if you suffer from back problems as you’re not so much holding up the vacuum as pushing it along.
Hyundai’s machine is multi-functional too, so it won’t just gather dust and cobwebs in the shed. Use it for clearing grass trimmings, cleaning inside your car and even to shift snow over winter. There’s a choice of seven speed settings, and swapping between the vac and blower function is just a case of flipping a switch.
The suction/ blowing tube has nine positions, all adjustable to suit your height and it also comes with a padded shoulder strap for extra support.
It has a powerful 3000W motor and a 12m power cable, (a couple of metres longer than most others we’ve seen), while the mulcher shreds to a 10:1 ratio. The leaf collection bag holds up to 45L, and emptying is a doddle: simply unzip the bottom of the bag to empty.
This model is the lightest in our roundup, coming in at 3.3kg and we love the fact it arrives ready-assembled so no messing around having to fit it together.
Buy now £49.98, Amazon
VonHaus Leaf Blower and Vacuum 3000W
- Best for: Budget-conscious
- Electric or petrol: electric
- Bag capacity: 35L
- Weight: 3.56kg
- Cable length: 10m
If you’re watching the pennies, this excellent budget leaf vacuum from VonHaus comes in at just shy of £50. It’s powered by a 3000W motor, which is enough to clear your paths and lawn of leaves and there’s an integrated blower function that can be operated with the flick of a switch, so no need to swap over tubes for the different functions. The mulcher shreds the leaves, depositing them in the 35L collection bag ready to spread on your vegetable patch or add to your compost heap.
This vacuum comes with a shoulder strap, which, along with the wheels on the tube help spread the weight, thereby minimising pressure on your back and shoulders.
The power cable is the average 10m most corded leaf vacuums we’ve looked at have, so large garden-owners may need an extension lead.
Buy now £44.99, VonHaus
Cobra BV6040VZ Cordless Blower / Vac
Best for: cordless
Electric or petrol: electric
Bag capacity: 45L
Weight: 4.8kg
Cable length: N/A, cordless
This cordless garden vacuum comes in at under £100 without the battery, which is the best price we’ve seen for a cordless model. The collection bag has a simple zip fastener to open and close, so easy to empty onto the compost heap. However, there is no mulcher so the leaves stay whole once they’ve been sucked up.
It’s also a blower but you have to change tubes if you want to switch functions.
The BV6040VZ uses a 40v battery, which you’ll need to purchase separately - but think of it as an investment because it can then be used with other Cobra garden tools, like its cordless lawn mowers, the cordless grass trimmer and the cordless hedge trimmer.
Buy now £99.99, Just Lawnmowers
Flymo PowerVac 3000
- Best for: high-power with cable
- Electric or petrol: electric,
- Bag capacity: 45L
- Weight: 5.2kg
- Cable length: 10m
A powerful garden vacuum, blower and mulcher that tears up collected leaves and debris to a satisfyingly small size, thanks to the 16:1 shredding ratio. This means a finer end product to add to your compost bin or vegetable plot, but practically speaking it also means emptying the 45L bag less often.
Unlike some of the other models in our round-up, the Flymo PowerVac 3000 requires you to change the tube to change the function from vac to blower, which is a faff, especially if you’re using the machine frequently. The bag also doesn’t have a zip fastening for easy emptying.
This is one of the heavier vacuums in our round-up and it doesn’t have wheels at the front, though the shoulder strap provided does help to spread the weight.
Buy now £63.20, Amazon
Draper Garden Vacuum, Blower and Mulcher 3000W
- Best for: Small gardens
- Electric or petrol: electric
- Bag capacity: 35L
- Weight: 3.76kg
- Cable length: 10m
A well-priced garden vacuum from Draper that offers blower and mulcher functions for quick and easy leaf clearing.
The 35L collection bag is smaller than the average 45L, so this is better for smaller gardens. The 3000W motor provides lots of power and there’s even a leaf comb for shifting stubborn leaves.
This is also one of the lighter models in our round-up, which along with the shoulder strap and support wheels could make this a good choice for older gardeners.
Buy now £57.95, Amazon
Black & Decker BEBLV301 Leaf Vacuum and Blower
- Best for: Large gardens
- Electric or petrol: electric
- Bag capacity: 72L
- Weight: 6kg
- Cable length: 12m
This leaf vac from Black & Decker holds an impressive 72L in its collection bag which is worn as a backpack, making it optimal for weight distribution across your back and shoulders - a bonus if you suffer from back problems.
The collection bag capacity makes it perfect for larger gardens and thanks to the shredding ratio of 12:1 you fit more in. The rake attachment on the front is a handy feature, helping unstick stubborn leaves so they’re easier to suck up.
Emptying is a breeze; just unzip the side of the backpack to release the leaves into your compost bin.
However, one drawback in swapping from vacuum to blower; you will need to change the attachment, and there are no wheels on the front to help with manoeuvrability, which feels a bit of a design oversight when you consider this thing weighs in at 6kg.
Buy now £109.99, Amazon
Kärcher BLV 18-200 Cordless Leaf Vac
- Best for: Turbo boost
- Electric or petrol: electric
- Bag capacity: 45L
- Weight: 3.5kg without battery
- Cable length: cordless
This cordless garden vacuum from Kärcher offers up to 30 minutes of power on a full battery, which should be plenty of time to tidy up most gardens. It also has a turbo boost function for sucking up stubborn leaves.
A simple switch takes you from vac and blower, and the 45L collection bag is easy to empty with a zipped fastening.
The battery and charger must be purchased separately, but the 18V battery can be used to power a range of Kärcher products. There are wheels at the front to help guide direction and bear the weight, but it doesn’t come with a shoulder strap, which is another attachment to purchase separately.
Buy now £209.99, Amazon
Gardena Leaf and Grass Collector
- Best for: Non-vac leaf collector
- Electric or petrol: manual
- Bag capacity: 90L
- Weight: 8.4kg
- Cable length: N/A
While this isn’t strictly a vacuum, it’s made our list as it collects leaves, albeit manually – a bit like the floor sweepers of the ‘60s that weren’t vacuums but did the same job. Simply push it across your lawn and the plastic brushes gather up the leaves as they rotate, depositing them in the large basket, which holds up to 90L.
The Gardena has a working width of 49cm covering a wide area while the upright design means it’s easy on your back. The height is adjustable and the handle is comfortable to hold for extended periods.
On the noise side, it’s quiet thanks to the lack of motor, but on the minus side, there’s no mulcher so the leaves stay whole.
Buy now £151.20, Amazon
McCulloch GBV 322 VX
- Best for: Petrol vacuum
- Electric or petrol: petrol
- Bag capacity: 45L
- Weight: 4.5kg
- Cable length: N/A
If you prefer petrol-powered garden tools to electric then the McCulloch garden vacuum is right up your street.
This model has a 26cc petrol engine and 800W power output. It’s a blower – with speeds of up to 379km/h – as well as a vacuum and it also mulches the leaves into a smaller size than most others in our round-up with a ratio of 16:1.
Cons? You’ll need to swap over the plastic tubes if you want to switch from vacuum to blower. The bag holds up to 45L and this machine has cruise control – you can set the fan speed.
Buy now £184.99, Amazon
Stihl SHE 71 Electric Vacuum Shredder
- Best for: Quietness
- Electric or petrol: electric
- Bag capacity: 45L
- Weight: 4.1kg
- Cable length: 10m
This Stihl SHE 71 electric vacuum shredder is the quietest we’ve found at 85dB so it’s a good option if you’re worried about annoying your neighbours. All garden vacuums are noisy, though electric models are less so than their petrol counterparts, and none of them are exactly quiet.
Leaves are shredded within the machine and collected in the bag, which has a capacity of 45L. Simply open the zip on the bottom to empty the leaves into the compost bin.
The Stihl SHE 71 is also a blower – though you do have to swap over the attachments so you can’t use both functions without stopping to change tubes, which adds extra time to the task and is a bit of a pain.
Buy now £189.89, Amazon
Ryobi 18V ONE+ Cordless Brushless HP Blower-Vac
Best for: high-power cordless
Electric or petrol: electric
Bag capacity: 45L
Weight: 4.7kg with battery (3.95kg without battery)
Assembling the Ryobi 18V ONE+ cordless vacuum is easy. Once done, install the battery and you are ready to start.
The vacuum made short work of my leaf pile, the integral metal mulcher shredding them down ready for the compost bin (ratio 10:1). Emptying the bag was a doddle, just a matter of unzipping the bottom (tip: remember to zip it closed afterwards, otherwise the chopped leaves blow all over the garden).
This machine has vac and blower tubes parallel to each other and all you need to do to change the function is move the lever on the side, which is much easier than having to change over the attachments.
I found the Ryobi simple to operate, with an on/off power button and a second button to control the three speeds. It’s powerful in both vacuum and blow modes (air speed vac: 126km/h, air speed blow: 252km/h). You’ll get up to 30 minutes on a full battery at the lowest speed, though this drops considerably if you’re using the highest speed setting.
I loved the fact there was no power cord to get in the way, I didn’t have to faff around with an extension lead and I wasn’t limited as to where I could go.
The wheels on the front are robust and help take the machine’s weight, as well as guide it in the direction you want; the main handle is textured and soft-touch, so it’s comfortable to hold and there’s a shoulder strap included should you wish to carry the vac around.
All in all I found the Ryobi 18V ONE+ Cordless vac an absolute pleasure to use. Clearing garden leaves is always going to be a chore, but this machine made it a lot easier.
The 18V battery and charger must be bought separately, but they can be used to on garden tools in the same range.
Buy now £205.99, Ryobi
Verdict
The Hyundai HYBV3000E takes our top spot because not only does it perform but it incorporates those thoughtful extras that make life just that little bit easier: it’s ready-assembled, has a longer power cord, adjustable height and speed, and a more comfortable upright design. All for a fantastic price.
