Even though the leaves are aesthetically pleasing, they can become an annoyance when removing them from your yard.

One of the best weapons is a blower/vac. Look for a machine with at least two air speeds - a lower speed for sweeping out the garage and gathering leaves into smaller piles and a higher speed to tackle the heavy, wet leaves. Blower/vacs with infinitely variable speed control offer ultimate flexibility in both blower and vacuum modes.

Two other important blower/vac features are the impeller and the leaf-reduction ratio. Durable impellers can tackle heavy-duty debris without clogging. Blower/vacs with larger leaf-reduction ratios mean fewer bags of leaves to haul. Look for ratios as high as 16:1 - you’ll be able to fit the equivalent of 16 unmulched bags into just one.

You can always take a low-tech approach and purchase a quality rake. The best bang for your buck is an old-fashioned steel-tine rake. Its durability surpasses all others.

For more information, visit www.yardcare.com.