Are you tired of raking your lawn to get rid of all the leaves? Have you finally decided to invest in a lawn sweeper? Then let us give you some lawn sweeper tips to make your journey from raking to sweeping much smoother.
Your lawn sweeper will be the best lawn care equipment you’ll own. To get the best out of your sweeper, you must utilize it efficiently. With our tips, you’ll be able keep your lawn looking pristine with no leaves or debris.
1. Do Your Research
Before you venture out into the store, find out what’s out there. There are lots of models and brands to choose from, not to mention the different types of lawn sweepers in the market.
Go on the internet, ask a friend, or talk to your neighbor about lawn sweepers. Find out the features of the types of lawn sweepers and decide which one has the specific features that you require.
If you’ve got a relatively small yard, then you may want to get a push lawn sweeper, which is lighter and cheaper but will require some physical effort from you. But if you’ve got a larger lawn with lots of trees, then you might have to opt for a tow-behind lawn sweeper.
So don’t just walk into the store with no idea about lawn sweepers. Do your research, decide on a model, and then pay. You can also read the best lawn sweeper reviews here.
2. Get Your Lawn Sweeper Assembled from the Store
Although all lawn sweepers do the same job, different models and brands may vary in terms of methods of assembly. A lot of the time, owners complain about their new lawn sweepers not being able to pick up debris properly, and in most cases, it turns out that it is due to incorrect assembly.
If you don’t have prior experience of lawn sweeper assembly, we strongly suggest you spend a few more bucks and save yourself the trouble.
Or if you have already assembled it yourself and you’re just not sure that everything looks as it should, take it to your nearest Home Depot or Lowes and ask for help. This way, you can be sure that your lawn sweeper will work as it’s supposed to.
3. Read the Manual
Different lawn sweepers have different features and functions. Once you’re sure that your lawn sweeper is assembled correctly, read the manual to find out how to properly operate it.
Fight the urge to just push the start button and then go with the flow. The user’s manual will always have instructions, warnings, troubleshooting, safety issues, features, and functions explained clearly. This will help you plan and decide how to get the best out of your equipment.
4. A Dry Lawn Is Better than a Wet Lawn
When the lawn is wet, leaves, twigs, grass clippings get stuck to the ground. It’ll be more difficult to remove them with a lawn sweeper when your lawn is wet. The sweeper will be able to pick up the debris much better and faster when the ground is dry.
5. Mow Your Lawn Regularly
Lawn mowing and sweeping go hand in hand. They are dependent on each other in helping you keep a neat and tidy lawn.
If your grass has become too long, then mow before you sweep because shorter grass will make it easier for your sweeper’s brush to pick up more debris than fighting with the long grass to actually reach it. The debris will stick out if the grass is short.
But if you think you have too much debris on your lawn that you’re having difficulty finding any green on your lawn, then go ahead sweep it before you mow. This way, the sweeper will be able to pick up any debris that might harm your mower.
6. Try out Different Tractor Speed
If you’ve got a tow-behind lawn sweeper, it might take you a few tries to understand which is the optimum speed for your sweeper to pick up debris.
Every lawn is different, and every debris type is also different. You have to adjust your speed according to your needs and the sweeper’s task. So don’t get agitated if your lawn sweeper is not always picking up debris, in the same way, every time.
Experiment with speed, and with a few trial and error, you’ll find the best speed at which your sweeper is able to pick up the maximum amount of debris from your lawn.
7. Adjust Brush Height
Just like with speed, you need to experiment with the different heights of the sweeper’s brush. As a general rule, the brushes of your lawn sweeper should be half an inch below the grass tip, but this is definitely not a strict rule, just a rough guideline.
When your brush height is set correctly, it will improve the amount of debris being picked up. It’ll save you time and effort from sweeping over the same area multiple times.
8. Always Go Straight
If you’re using a tow-behind lawn sweeper, then try to drive in long straight lines as much as possible. Even with a push sweeper, push it in a straight line. This will ensure maximum sweeping.
9. Remove the Contents of the Hopper Regularly
Don’t let the hopper or the bag that’s attached to your lawn sweeper fill up to the brim. This can lead to your hopper being weighed down and the bottom being dragged along the ground and eventually getting cuts and tears by debris. Empty your hopper regularly, and it’ll save the extra expense of a replacement.
10. Sweep It Twice
Go over your lawn twice to make sure that the lawn sweeper picks up any debris that has been missed the first time. Keep the hopper on and do another round to collect them.
11. Remove Anything That’s Too Big for the Sweeper
If you pick up and get rid of large sticks or vines before you sweep your lawn, you can be sure that these won’t damage the brushes or lock the wheels. Either use a rake or just pick up by hand the debris that you think might be too large for your lawn sweeper.
12. Pull out Debris from the Edge
Use a rake to bring out the debris around the fence, gates, and edges of your lawn. The lawn sweeper will be able to clean up better this way.
13. Clean Your Lawn Sweeper
Just as your sweeper helps you take care of your lawn by keeping it clean and tidy, you must clean the sweeper thoroughly after every use. Clean the hopper and chute properly every time you sweep and check the wheels for any debris build-up, which can lead to rust and jam, making your lawn sweeper useless over time.
Conclusion
Lawn sweepers are easy to use and easy to maintain. If you put in the effort to get to know it properly, be patient with its functions and take care of it, it’ll become your lawn’s best friend.
Our lawn sweeper tips will guarantee the proper utilization of your sweeper every time you use it. You’ll also be able to use it for a long time and won’t have to worry about it being damaged.