CLEARING LEAVES IN AUTUMN

Spectacular golden, red and orange leaf foliage is one of the best parts of Autumn, but when those leaves start to fall it’s time to reach for your SH 86 C-E Petrol Blower & Vacuum Shredder!

While a thin layer of leaf litter can act as a natural mulch for your lawn, too much leaf cover can eventually kill it off by blocking sunlight and airflow. In the garden, too much debris can keep water from flowing into the soil and can increase the chance of fungus. By keeping leaf litter to a minimum with your SH 86 C-E Petrol Blower & Vacuum Shredder, you can make sure your lawn and garden beds are strong and healthy in preparation for the colder months.

Using a SH 86 C-E Petrol Blower & Vacuum Shredder is the easiest way to clear and dispose of leaves. Before starting, assess your yard for twigs, rocks and debris which could damage the motor. After removing these items, start with the machine in blower mode. Using the tip at a shallow angle, blow with the wind toward one collection pile. To prevent blowback, blow with the wind and along walls where possible.

Varying the speed of depending on the surface you’re working on can give you greater control. Leaves are easier to move on hard surfaces such as pavers or your driveway, so try using a slower speed on these areas. The round nozzle is great for working on uneven surfaces such as grass, and the flat nozzle is great for accuracy on flat surfaces and is perfect for moving wet leaves.

When you’ve blown the leaves into one area, switch to vacuum shredder mode and start vacuuming from the top of the pile. The shredder blade in a STIHL SH 86 C-E will chop the leaves up to 1/10th of their original size, which can be easily added to your compost bin or used as a nutrient-rich mulch. A thin layer of leaf litter over your garden beds will break down and rot back into the ground, enriching your soil ready for Spring.

In Short | Top Tips for Clearing Autumn Leaves

1. Before you start, assess your yard for twigs, rocks and debris before you start as these can damage the machine.
2. To avoid blow back (when the leaves go everywhere!) keep the nozzle at a shallow angle, blow with the wind and along walls.
3. Use varying speeds to maintain control. Hard surfaces require a slower speed as leaves are easier to move.
4. The round nozzle is great for working on uneven surfaces like grass.
5. The flat nozzle is great for accuracy on flat surfaces and is perfect for moving wet leaves.
6. Once you’ve blown to one collection point, switch to vacuum shredder setup.
7. Start at the top of the pile and vacuum the leaves slowly to avoid clogging, the shredder will reduce the leaves to approximately 1/4 of their size.
8. Save those leaves! Add them to your compost heap for use in your garden next year!