How To Use A Leaf Mulcher To Clean Up Leaves In Yard

For a gardener, a pristine and luscious-looking lawn is the ultimate reward!

And frankly, it’s not something that can happen with minimal effort. It takes hours of back-bending and muscle-aching work to keep your lawn in top-notch condition. But thanks to the development in science and technology, gardeners have an array of machines at their disposal.

Since I prefer maintaining my lawn in the most organic way possible, I’m always on the hunt for equipment that helps me create a healthy compost or mulch. And that’s why leaf mulchers sat on the top of my must-have list till I got one and upgraded it to a better model recently.

However, while I was working with it one day, my neighbor came up to me, asking me why I had got a second leaf blower. Upon informing her that it’s a leaf mulcher, she expressed her queries about its functioning. And that’s when I thought of curating a guide to help her as well as my readers.

Hi! I’m Stacy, and today, I’ve an extensive guide on everything you need to know about leaf mulchers. Let’s start then!

How Does A Leaf Mulcher Work?

Now, I know that you have already purchased a leaf mulcher, so you’d be familiar with its operation. But for those of my readers who are looking for more details before deciding to buy one, allow me to describe how a leaf mulcher actually works. 

This machine essentially uses metal blades, plastic blades, or string-trimming lines to tear up leaves into smaller pieces, making it easy to carry them to the trash or compost bin. Not only that, but it also shreds the pieces into just the right size to be used as mulch. So get your leaf rake ready to make some piles to mulch.

Furthermore, you have the option of choosing between two different types of mulchers, i.e., standalone and handheld. While the former is usually gas-powered, the latter runs on either electricity or battery and is available in both corded and cordless variants.

How To Use A Leaf Mulcher?

Honestly, operating a leaf mulcher isn't rocket science per se; all you have to do is allow the leaves to enter the machine, which then does the shredding on its own. But the functionality will largely depend on the type and model you have opted for.

1. Standalone Mulchers

Starting with standalone leaf mulchers, these machines are suitable for taking on heavy-duty mulching. From what I have observed, most standalone mulchers come with a bowl-shaped hopper atop a three-legged stand. You may use a leaf rake or blower to collect the leaves and feed them into the hopper while collecting the shredded leaves in a bag or container. 

In that sense, they can only perform one activity, which is shredding. However, the good news is that the more powerful standalone mulchers, especially those with dual-sided blades will even “eat-up” larger branches. 

2. Handheld Mulchers

A handheld leaf mulcher is a multi-purpose machine that works as a leaf vacuum or leaf blower (or both) and a shredder. These units typically look like a leaf blower, except for the collection bag attached to the rear of the machines.

On top of that, they often come with a control mechanism that lets you customize the speed of the leaf collection. Likewise, a switch or button facilitates changing the modes according to your requirements. 

What I like the most about handheld mulchers (aside from their portability, of course!) is their seamless and precise operation near flower beds or bushes, where racking can cause irreversible damages to the plant. 

That said, I’d always recommend using the lowest speed setting while working around delicate plants. Besides, if you’re a first-time user, take on your first few mulching sessions at a low speed, as this will allow you to control the machine better. Once you get the hang of things, you may then use the faster speed settings to get through the job quickly.

What To Look For In A Leaf Mulcher?

Now that you have a good idea about how to use a leaf mulcher to clean up leaves in yard areas, here is a list of features that will guarantee optimum results every time.

1. Mulching Ratio

If you’re among those users who don’t like going through extensive product descriptions, a quick glance at the mulching ratio will get you the most suitable model minus all the hard work! The mulching ratio is nothing but a measure of the overall reduction in the size of the leaf pile.

For instance, if the mulching ratio reads 10:1, the mulcher will reduce 10 gallons of dry leaves into 1 gallon. Here, I should mention that the mulching ratio for residential use ranges from 8:1 to 18:1. Remember that the higher the ratio, the smaller the pieces will be. However, smaller leaves may decompose more quickly in the compost.

2. Ease Of Use

In my opinion, easy-to-use yard equipment is well appreciated by both novices and pros. That’s why I rate corded and cordless (handheld) mulchers higher than the standalone ones because they don’t require the hassle of mixing fuel, pouring engine oil, taking care of the carburetor, etc. 

However, it’s a matter of personal preference, and admirers of gas-powered models are more than happy with the power on offer.

3. Noise

I have used a couple of handheld mulchers, and the sound output was mostly in the range of 60 to 63 dB, which is extremely tolerable. On the other hand, standalone mulchers are pretty loud, with around 85 to 90 dB sound. So, you may want to check with the sound regulations of your community or neighborhood.

Conclusion