getting leaves off gravel area

andrewf75

I recently created a gravel area and its now covered in leaves, which are a nightmare to rake off. The only way I've found is to literally pick them off by hand. Is a leaf blower what I need to get rid of them? I'm not fussy about leaves lying around the rest of the garden, but I'm concerned if left to build up here, they will rot and ruin the gravel area.
Any recommendations much appreciated!

Pulpdiction

I bought a Makita ZMAK-BHX2501 from Amazon over the summer, just under £160, unfortunately at the current time the its £189.99. It's lightweight and 4 stroke, so no need to mix the fuel.

You could go for the corded option of an electric a lot cheaper, depends how big your garden is really.

My main issue is that most of the leaves on my garden come from the neighbours trees. I filled 2 builders bag full on Sunday and there's probably the same again there now, using this leaf blower that will take me about 30 minutes.

Justagardener

Get one of these plastic rakes.. we rake 1.5 miles of gravel paths using these rakes perfect for the job https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spear-Jackson-Neverbend-Carbon-Plastic/dp/B004410FKG/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1478269510&sr=8-7&keywords=Spear+and+jackson+rake
If you dont want to rake then get a cordless blower they are pretty powerful. Posted on MSE yesterday.."if you have a large garden, you cant beat a back pack blower. They won't hurt your back as they are not too heavy and they do such a quick job you won't have it on for long! There are also some brilliant cordless leaf blowers on the market now. They are quite light to hold and some are nearly as powerful as hand held petrol blowers. There is quite a good write up here https://theperfectgarden.co.uk/2016/09/03/leaf-blowers
Don't buy a machine that collects, by the time it's full of leaves they become quite heavy."

andrewf75

Justagardener wrote: »

Get one of these plastic rakes.. we rake 1.5 miles of gravel paths using these rakes perfect for the job https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spear-Jackson-Neverbend-Carbon-Plastic/dp/B004410FKG/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1478269510&sr=8-7&keywords=Spear+and+jackson+rake
If you dont want to rake then get a cordless blower they are pretty powerful. Posted on MSE yesterday.."if you have a large garden, you cant beat a back pack blower. They won't hurt your back as they are not too heavy and they do such a quick job you won't have it on for long! There are also some brilliant cordless leaf blowers on the market now. They are quite light to hold and some are nearly as powerful as hand held petrol blowers. There is quite a good write up here http://theperfectgarden.co.uk/2016/09/03/leaf-blowers
Don't buy a machine that collects, by the time it's full of leaves they become quite heavy."

Thanks, I'm happy to rake as its only a small patch of gravel and I don't really want to get another machine. But is this rake really so much better than a normal metal one? I've actually got 3 different rakes and none of them really work well over the gravel.

Justagardener

Yes they really are good rakes. We use them on the lawns too.they are light and don't dig in as metal ones do. We use them on 10mm gravel..pea shingle..I would say that any gravel bigger than that is is difficult to rake anyway.

glasgowdan

Those plastic rakes aren't magic and you'll still rake up gravel and miss leaves.

I'd get a wee blower, as powerful as you can afford. Nothing gets left behind.

Justagardener

I'm disappointed in GlasgowDan 's raking skills! I would offer to show you if i wasnt so busy raking leaves ;-) Little and often is the answer to raking. Whatever you do move them quick otherwise the worms will take them half way down and you will have leaves sticking out of the gravel forever more.

glasgowdan

I clear leaves for a living at this time of year and only use what's most thorough and efficient. Blowers rake up everything... no rake does that Leaves and debris sadly aren't all large and easily caught. It's all the tiny stuff, petals, buds, twigs, bits of leaves, berries etc.

I appreciate this is only a small area though. I'd still want a blower so I could do a thorough job!

Justagardener

Sounds like we are in the same business...with 14 acres and over 450 trees our blowers are full pelt too... even on gravel ;-) oaks are still green (