Raking leaves can become a tiring chore. But, with an effective lawn sweeper, you can do this task in a few minutes.
Despite being a gardening enthusiast, I’ll admit that cleaning the yard isn’t something I particularly enjoy. More so after my lawn sweeper broke down recently. I did squeeze in a few more uses after repairing it, but buying a new one was inevitable.
Until my husband suggested that I try a DIY lawn sweeper. Although it took some time to process what he meant, seeing my customization skills in the past he convinced me to try it out. So, I put on my gloves, dusted my toolbox, and got started.
To my surprise, it didn’t take me too long to end up with a lawn sweeper that actually works! There was no way I could resist sharing my method with you, so I’ve curated this guide on how to build a lawn sweeper.
With that said, let’s get started!
A Brief Guide On Lawn Sweepers
What Is A Lawn Sweeper?
As the name suggests, a lawn sweeper is used to clean the lawn by eliminating fallen leaves, grass clippings, twigs, acorns, and so on. Such garden waste should be removed to allow the healthy growth of new grass and prevent bare spots.
A lawn sweeper is equipped with high-velocity brushes connected to the wheels that allow the brushes to detangle the grass and rake in dirt and debris. The waste material is collected in a hopper or bag, which can be emptied later.
Thus, a lawn sweeper is much more efficient and less time-consuming than a traditional raker.
How Is A Lawn Sweeper Different From A Leaf Blower?
Although a lawn sweeper and a leaf blower may serve the same purpose, i.e., eliminating debris and garden waste, the former does so without much damage. Since its mechanism matches that of a push mower, it cleans up the lawn more efficiently and detangles the grass for better mowing results. This means the blades of your mower will last significantly longer.
Plus, a lawn sweeper allows easy collection and disposal of waste. This is because of a hopper that can be emptied into a compost bin, thereby reducing your time and effort spent in lawn maintenance.
Contrarily, a leaf blower contributes to air and noise pollution to a great extent. So, it’s not just you who will be complaining, but also your neighbors.
When To Use A Lawn Sweeper?
This is one lawn care equipment which you can use all year round. Once winter is over, the lawn is usually covered with heaps of dead twigs and leaves. On top of that, since most people dethatch the lawn during early spring, a lawn sweeper becomes a necessity in the following months.
Even during summer, many trees and plants are at their peak, requiring regular mowing followed by sweeping.
Needless to say, fall is the busiest season for many gardening enthusiasts. With most trees shedding their leaves, a lawn sweeper allows easy and quick clean-up. Thereafter, a lawn sweeper is essential during the winter months to pick up leftover debris after a mowing session.
- 50” Sweeping Width; 26 cu. ft. capacity hopper
- 11″ spiraled polypropylene brushes – an Ohio Steel patented exclusive feature!
- 4.5 to 1 brush to wheel turning ratio
- MADE IN USA
- SWEEPER WIDTH: 42-Inch width
- BRUSH HEIGHT: Set brushes to penetrate the grass to a depth of 1/2 in. (13 mm)
How To Build A Lawn Sweeper?
Considering the importance of a lawn sweeper, there’s no doubt that you need one if you’ve got a huge yard. However, you can easily make it at home with a few tools and save up on the unnecessary costs. Here’s how you do it:
Step 1- Get A Motor
A lawn sweeper must consist of a motor that will allow it to move as it cleans. So, before you get started, make sure you have a motor-powered device at home or get one from a local hardware store. It is usually readily available, so that shouldn’t be much of a problem.
Step 2- Grab A Hopper
Another important part of a lawn sweeper is the hopper that collects all the waste and puts it in a compost pit. Having a large hopper is essential to collect chunks of debris and clean the lawn quickly and efficiently.
Step 3- Attach A Fine Brush
The third most important part of a lawn sweeper is a brush that combs through the grass and collects dirt and debris. For this, you will need a good quality brush that does the job effectively. Moreover, the size of the brush should match that of the lawn sweeper.
Step 4- Customize A Lawnmower
Out of all other yard care equipment, a lawnmower checks all the boxes required for customization into a lawn sweeper. For instance, adding a hopper and a brush will transform your old mower into a multi-functional device. However, the lawnmower should be in good working condition if you don’t want your improvisation to backfire!
Step 5- Adjust And Customize
Once you’ve attached the primary parts required to make a lawn sweeper, you can adjust it further according to your needs. While a lawnmower already has all the important parts, like a handle for ease of use, you can always go ahead and add modifications as you see fit.
Creativity knows no limits, but make sure the adjustments are practical and do not hinder the functions of your lawn sweeper.
Summing It Up
And that’s a wrap!
Hopefully, this informative guide will help you in your future DIY projects in the garage. With the right tools and some creativity, you can save a lot of money in the long run.
But before I take your leave, I’d highly recommend wearing your gloves and any other safety equipment before getting started. Although this custom project does not require any sharp tools, it is always better to be safe than sorry, especially in the garage.
With that said, I’ll be signing off now. Let me know if you’ve got any DIY tips and tricks up your sleeve in the comments section below. I’ll be back with more such informative reads very soon.
Until then, stay safe!