Vacuuming your yard for fun and exercise
Written: Apr 20 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Vacuums up and yard waste and turns it into compost
Cons: Loud, I don't like the blower, clogs up when grass is wet
The Bottom Line: Great for making compost. I don't like the blower though.
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| meowmp3's Full Review: Black & Decker Bv2500 Leaf Hog Vac 'N' Mulch Blowe... |
I live in Southern California, where we have a large rambling yard full of cactus, succulent plants, citrus trees and weeds! These are mostly wild grasses, and I cut them down with a weed whacker.
I used to rake them up, and put them in our yard waste bin. Now I vacuum! The dry grass shoots right up the vacuum tube, and goes through what looks like a plastic fan blade where it is chopped into bits. They go into a big canvas bag with a shoulder strap. The bag has a zipper for emptying it.
Chopping up the yard waste helps to minimize it's bulk. I have a yard waste container to fill up every week, and it seems like I can get twice as much in it.
It's also great for making compost. I vacuum up dried leafs and pine needles, and mix them in with the compost pile. I don't put the cut up weeds in there, because they are usually full of seeds. When I use the vacuum as opposed to a rake, It seems to pick up a lot more of the seeds, and the new growth is thinned out.
Like cutting down the weeds, this is hard work. It is also great exercise. I can feel my stomach and arm muscles really getting a workout.
The first day I got it I vacuumed up a big pinecone by mistake. It made a horrible racket, and I thought that was the end! However, when I unplugged it and opened it the fan blade inside was just nicked. It worked fine after that.
Sometimes it clogs up if I try and vacuum up grass that is too wet. It’s not hard to unclog, but it breaks the rhythm when you have to stop and take the thing apart. I find it works well to cut the grass in the morning, let it dry out and vacuum it up at the end of the day. Drying it out makes it lighter and easier to pick up.
This also converts to a blower. I tried the blower a few times, but I didn’t like it. Too much dust comes up, and I found it hard to control.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
meowmp3
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Member: Melissa Woycechowsky
Location: San Diego, CA
Reviews written: 83
Trusted by: 20 members
About Me:
I'm an artist, writer, reader, gardener.
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