Push lawn sweepers are manually operated and smaller than the other type of lawn sweeper (tow behind).
They work by being pushed in front of you, just like a lawn mower.
As you walk and push, the wheels spin a set of sweeping brushes underneath the machine that collect debris and dump it into a collection hopper.
When the hopper is full, you detach it and empty out the contents, and re-attach it to continue sweeping the rest of the lawn.
Push lawn sweepers are much easier to get started with than tow behind ones, but they are less powerful and take more time to clear a whole lawn.
Good For Light Coverage Of Leaves And Grass Clippings
Just like tow behind lawn sweepers, push sweepers are effective for clearing leaves and grass clippings from your lawn.
However, they cannot handle as many different types of debris as tow behind lawn sweepers can. This is because they tend to have a lighter build and smaller brushes compared to tow behind sweepers, and will jam with difficult debris such as pine needles, pine cones, sticks, and branches.
More Quiet And Eco-Friendly
Push lawn sweepers do not require gas to operate so they are more quiet and eco-friendly than the tow behind variety.
Cheaper To Operate
Push lawn sweepers are manually operated, so they do not require fuel-driven machines like lawn tractors or riding mowers like tow behind sweepers do. This makes them cheaper to operate and easier to get started with.
Also, there are no cords to worry about as there is no electricity required.
Faster And Easier Than Raking
Push lawn sweepers help you clear your lawn much faster than raking and bagging. Our research shows that it is possible to gather ten full bags of leaves in less than one hour with push lawn sweepers.
Given that you are effectively “bagging” the leaves as you collect them, a significant amount of time is saved by using a push sweeper.
Saves Your Back
Push lawn sweepers will reduce the strain on your back that often goes with working on your lawn.
You will not have to bend down or twist your body as you would with a rake, and since the whole process is a lot quicker, you will be able to complete the job without sore joints and aching muscles at the end.
Gives You Exercise
Walking is an excellent form of exercise and push lawn sweepers require you to walk in order to operate them.
That is why push lawn sweepers help you stay in shape if you regularly use them.
They are enjoyed by people who like to take brisk walks.
Advantages Over Tow Behind Lawn Sweepers
Push lawn sweepers are lighter than tow behind ones, which makes them easier to move around and store. Because they are smaller, they can get into nooks and crannies of your lawn that the tow behind models – which are larger – cannot.
Push lawn sweepers can be used to clear debris (such as leaves) from pavements. Few tow behind lawn sweepers are capable of this.
As well, push lawn sweepers cost less than tow behind lawn sweepers. They typically range between $50-150 vs $200-400 for tow behinds (plus the need for an expensive lawn tractor or riding mower).
When Not To Purchase A Push Lawn Sweeper
Push lawn sweepers will take a lot of time to get the job done if you have a large lawn. Also, they are not going to be easy to use if you have many trees that produce a high volume of leaves.
Push lawn sweepers are smaller than tow behind ones. Their hoppers fill up faster. That means you will constantly have to empty out the hopper, which will take time and energy.
Also, push lawn sweepers are not powerful enough for debris other than light leaves and grass clippings. If you have pine needles, tweeds, and sticks then you should get a tow behind lawn sweeper. These larger lawn sweepers have a heavier build and can cope with more types of debris.