GET READY FOR AUTUMN LEAVES WITH THE NEW TORO SUPER BLOWER VAC

Autumn is one of the busiest months in the garden, with an endless list of tidying jobs to be accomplished before the onset of winter drives us indoors. For many, the biggest chore is what can seem like the never-ending task of keeping areas such as lawns, paths and driveways clear of the thick carpet of leaves and other debris that forms constantly throughout the season.

Therefore the new Super Blower Vac just launched by Toro will be a welcome addition to the armoury of all gardeners faced with this problem. This lightweight, hand-held unit makes short work of clearing up leaves because it’s effectively three machines in one – a blower, vacuum and leaf shredder that chops material (in a ratio of 10 to 1) into a fine mulch for maximum bagging capacity (52 litres). With an air speed of up to 340km/h and two-speed control, the Toro Super Blower Vac has the power and flexibility to cope with the most challenging clear-up jobs. And attractively priced at only £89 including VAT it won’t break the bank either.

Toro also offers the higher specification Ultra 350 Blower Vac, which features an aluminium impeller and variable speed control. Like its stablemate above, it’s also a three-in-one machine and shreds leaves to an even finer ratio of 16 to 1. Air speed is a more powerful 350km/h, and the added variable speed facility offers greater control in both blower and vacuum modes. There’s also a comfort-grip control that keeps hands securely in place and makes the product a pleasure to use. The Toro Ultra 350 Blower Vac is only £109 including VAT.

Both blower vacs can be used with a shoulder collection bag supplied with the units. Alternatively, to make the job even easier and quicker, Toro’s clever, award-winning Leaf Cart attachment can be used instead. This is basically a ‘bag on wheels’ that enables users to collect leaves hands-free, effortlessly. Weighing only 13lb, it offers a lightweight, easy-to-use alternative to shoulder-slung bag attachments.

The cart comes with a large, 154 litre-capacity cloth bag that is quickly and easily connected to the blower vac via a 6ft-long hose of 3.5in diameter. It folds neatly away for easy storage.

For gardeners looking for a solution to the problem of collecting up leaves from large areas of grass amounting to, say, two acres, there is the high-capacity Toro Lawn Vac. This self-propelled, walk-behind machine is fitted with a Briggs & Stratton 5.5hp, 4-stroke petrol engine, and vacuums leaves and debris through a 76cm (30in) front-mounted nozzle. The machine can also be operated as a powerful blower. With a four-bladed impeller made from 12in, heavy-gauge welded steel, the Toro Lawn Vac, which costs £999 including VAT, can deal with the biggest jobs and the toughest material. Collection bag capacity is a substantial 250 litres.

For gardeners who already own a Toro recycler lawnmower, or are thinking of getting one this autumn, these machines are also fantastic for vacuuming up leaves and light debris from the lawn. The machines’ special rotary cutting decks chop leaves into tiny pieces that are compacted inside the collection bag. Therefore bag emptying is reduced and the small leaf particles decompose quickly into valuable compost. Prices start at £169 including VAT for the new electric-powered Eurocycler recycler lawnmower.

For details of your local dealer, go to www.toro.com