Just after last weekend's storm, I spoke to a lady who for her retirement
gift, requested and received a Flymo vac. She tells me that it is nearly all
she hoped it would be. Much of her garden has a gravel and slab base with a
flower border along one fence. At the end of the garden is a row of ash
trees that have shed most of their leaves over the gravel. Not knowing much
about garden vacs., I asked her if apart from the leaves, it also sucks up a
few of her plants and the gravel. She told me never, but if the leaves are
very wet and compacted it won't suck them up either, even on the strongest
suction! But for her it still beats all the bending over she would have to
do without it.

Rhombus
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"Michael Berridge" wrote in a message:

If you have problems with gravel being picked up all you need to do is
to reduce the suction. I use one and use it on a stone chippings area,
never had a problem with the stones being picked up. The Flymo one is
the only one recommended as a value for money by Gardening Which.

The McCulloch petrol vac/blower (made by a subsidiary of Electrolux) is very
good, in my opinion. It's powerful enough to such up the wettest veaves,
shreds everything to a good (small) size, and has always started and run well
for me.

For me, the advantages are that I can take it anywhere and not have to worry
about an electricity supply or cables getting snagged (or being too short).
The engine has a throttle so can be throttled back so that gravel and stones
aren't picked up.

I'd say it was one of the best blowers/vacs you could get before going up to a
specialist/professional blower or vac.

Dave.