Toro Rake & Vac 10.5 Amp 2-Speed Electric Blower/Vacuum 51574 Review

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(More customer reviews)
The Toro 10.5 Amp 2-Speed Electric Blower/Vacuum #51574 is a nice unit that has the power to handle most yards. While not as powerful as some of the gas powered leaf blowers, this guy really wins on convenience. Being able to quickly finish a small area without having to worry about the correct mixture of oil and gasoline is worth the trade offs. It won't satisfy the professional landscaper or the homeowner trying to groom 2 acres, but it's going to meet the needs of many people with average sized lawns.
In my case, I actually do own a gas powered unit by Poulan and a different Toro electric model. While the gas unit has some nice extra features and great power, I have found that after not starting it in a while it is difficult to start up again. So this Toro unit eliminates that problem, because whenever I have to quickly gather up fresh fallen leaves I can just plug it in and go.
Now one of the drawbacks to an electric leaf blower is just that, dealing with having to plug it in and managing the extension cord. I have found that I can do about 3000 square feet within 4 hours. It only takes me a little while to move the cord around as I work.
Just one note about extension cords. These blowers do use a fair amount of electricity. So don't skimp on the extension cord. Make sure you use a grounded cord that is rated for exterior use. I err on the side of caution and use a contractor grade exterior extension cord, because it's important to be safe when using electrical equipment. Some of the better ones on Amazon are made by Coleman such as the Coleman Cable 02469 14/3 100-Foot Hi-Visibility/Low-Temperature Outdoor Extension Cord or the Coleman Cable 02569 12/3 100-Foot Hi-Visibility/Low-Temperature Outdoor Extension Cord. While those prices may seem high, they are an affordable way to have peace of mind when using electric power tools outdoors.Pros
+ The blower has enough power to move dirt and leaves well
+ Requires no regular maintenance other than basic surface cleaning
+ More convenient than gas powered units that require fuel and oil mixing
+ The plug tucks neatly and securely into a small rear hook, so it won't come loose
+ The rear bar also allows you to keep your extension cord tied securely
+ The price is pretty good, and much less than a gas powered unit
+ The looping handle and front bar allow you two handed control
+ The air intake has a grate for easy access to remove debris
+ The power dial is located conveniently under the handle
+ The included nozzle concentrates air flow into powerful bursts
+ Leaf vac option, though not with much power (see below)
Cons
- Less power than a gas powered unit for larger properties or frequent use
- This model doesn't shred leaves very much, best used as a blower only
- Has a slightly noisy motor when on high, though this is true of most blowers
- Have to purchase and use extension cords, which add a little cost
- The front nozzle is not very durable and will wear with use
- The unit is not well balanced so you must shift it from hand to hand
- The cost of electricity will exceed that of gas for very large yards, so keep that in mindThere are some cons as you can see, but they are relatively minor. Despite the shortcomings, this is a great unit to supplement your gas powered blower or completely replace it if your needs are less. I find I use this unit much more than my gas powered unit simply out of the convenience of not having to constantly tune up the other unit before use. While this one has less power and a few less features, it's more than enough to meet my week to week needs during the fall. You should check it out.
Enjoy.


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Yard Butler D-6C Core Lawn Aerator Review

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(More customer reviews)This aerator works as it's intended, and wetting the lawn half a day before coring does make it much easier. We have clay underneath the lawn, so the part that was dry was quite hard to core through. It's been a week and a half, and we can see some green grass coming out of the brown patches now. And in response to the person that mentioned it's hard to empty out the holes, you don't need to empty it, just keep pushing it into the ground. Each dig pushes out the dirt from the prior dig. After you're done, just stand up a stick on the ground and push through it to empty the hole, simple as that.
Having said all that, I did see a very similar corer/aerator at home depot for $20. Wish I had bought that one.
Also, a word of advice - stay away from the 4-prong aerator. It's hard enough to push through the 2-prong, I can't imagine the 4-prong working too well.

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The Yard Butler D-6C Core Lawn Aerator is great for old lawns or lawns where a lot of activity takes place. These type of yards become compacted. Also, thatch from dead leaves and roots builds up creating a barrier, keeping water and air from reaching the roots. The symptoms are thin turf with poor color and bare patches that don't respond to watering and fertilizer.Professionals recommend using the yard butler core aerator both spring and fall, depending on the type of grass, but aeration is good for lawns anytime. Your lawn care professional can tell you the best times to aerate in your climate zone.Core aeration reduces compaction and thatch to let air, water and fertilizer down to the root zone. Core aeration also stimulates root growth by "pruning" the roots and deposits valuable micro-organisms on the lawn surface.Pulls out two 1 2" cores of soil 3 1 2" long. Structured steel rod construction with vinyl grips. Lets air, water, and fertilizer to the roots. 40" overall length. Tips made of hardened steel.

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Ames True Temper 1914000 Adjustable Thatching Rake with 54-Inch Wood Handle Review

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(More customer reviews)After reading a few reviews at other sites, I went out immediately to get one at my local hardware store. Despite not dethatching my grass for four years, it works quite well. I imagine with less thatch, that one could zoom through their yard. The thatching side works great and it does seem to work best when you use short and quick strokes. The otherside is meant for raking the thatch away, this works very smoothly. All in all, I'd say it's a good design and well worth the money and effort if you enjoy your yardwork.

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Ames 1914000 54" Handle 15" Head 19 Tine Lawn Groom Thatch RakeThe True Temper thatching rake is an all-purpose lawn rake. The curved tines are designed to clear dead grass (thatch) clippings from the lawn. This will allows air, sunshine, water, and fertilizers in to keep the grass healthy.Ames 1914000 54" Handle 15" Head 19 Tine Lawn Groom Thatch Rake Features:; Self-cleaning tine crimped on one side for scratching and loosening soil prior to seeding; Other side runs parallel to ground picking up litter and lifting low lying crab grass runners; Adjustable head; 54" handle, no replacement handle available; 19 teeth; 15" wide

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Hound Dog Products HDP3-8 Turf Hound Aerator Review

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(More customer reviews)My Turf Hound Aerator was purchased in Feb. 2008. I waited until after the rainy season to aerate my lawns in April and May. Very easy to use: grab the top handle and step on the bottom crossbar to punch holes in the lawn (with the two sharpened tubes on the bottom). That facilitates air, water, and fertilizer to reach the root systems for greener lawns.
Some things I've noticed (as have others):
Works best in semi-moist soil. Too dry and cutting becomes difficult; too wet and the soil plugs get stuck and don't come out the top of the tubes.
Try to step in the middle of the crossbar so the cutting tubes are perpendicular to the ground for even holes, less bending of the sharpened ends of the tubes, and less clogging.
When the sharpened ends of the tubes get bent, the soil plugs don't come out. Simple solution: don't try to pry out the stuck plugs with a screw driver, that may roughen the inside of the tubes or bend the cutting edges. Rinsing with water doesn't push out the stuck plugs either. Rather, go to a patch of lawn with slightly moist soil, step a few times and the moist plugs are pushed out. Now turn the aerator over and tap on the crossbar with a rubber mallet to get the remaining soil plugs out.
When the sharpened ends do get bent from tough soil/grass/rocks, I use an 10" old steel tubing just slightly smaller in diameter than the cutting tubes and tap it through the top with a rubber mallet. That straightens out the bent edges somewhat uniformly.
The Turf Hound Aerator does have a lifetime exchange guarantee so one can get a replacement at the cost of shipping it back to the manufacturer.
One last note: I DON'T leave the extruded soil plugs in my front lawns because they resemble dog doodoo and some thoughtless neighbors may mistake them as an invitation to use my front lawns as a pet porta-potty.
Check out my lawn in the customer submitted pics. Good Luck!

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Use the Hound Dog Products "Turf Hound" to makes room for grass roots to grow thicker and healthier, for a thicker, healthier lawn. The Turf Hound removes 4-inch plugs of turf to loosen compacted soil and break down thatch, allowing for the free flow of water, air, and fertilizer to the roots of your lawn and curing its trouble spots. It is the secret solution to having golf-course-quality turf. The Turf Hound's unique U-shaped handle is designed for easy stepping and comfort; it also features a rust-proof finish and durable, lightweight construction for long-lasting wear, as well as a large footstep for greater ease. The Turf Hound comes with 4-inch steel coring tubes. A limited lifetime warranty is included.

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Swisher 12886 60-Inch Lawn Roller Review

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(More customer reviews)Shipping crate was poor and damaged in shipment allowing (minimal but repairable) damage to roller. Information that the Roller was only 14 inchs in diameter rather than larger was missing from any internet sources and pictures were deceiving thus the the roller was found to be smaller in diameter that expected. The roller tow bar was not made out of as heavy of material as I would have desired (1 inch square stock that had only eight inch walls). Otherwise it was OK.

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Can be filled with water for smoothing new sod or uneven grass. Pin-style hitch. HP Required to Pull: 16, Overall Width (in.): 64, Weight Capacity (lbs.): 430-450 lbs. (40 gallons of water), Working Width (in.): 60

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