A: Yes, if you want to quickly and easily clean up your garden leaves then a leaf vacuum removes the need to use a manual rake. If your leaf vacuum also features a mulching blade then the resulting debris can be used as a natural mulch around your garden.

Depending on its intended use, a cordless leaf blower with a CFM between 400-700 should be powerful enough to greatly ease your fall yard chores. If you have a small yard with little debris, choose one with 200-400 CFM.

You should look for a blower with 450-500 CFM and 150-190 MPH ratings.

But, even then, battery-powered leaf blowers are catching up to some gas-engine models—and there's no preparation such as mixing or pouring fuel or the hassle of trying to start an engine that hasn't been used in a year. These battery-powered models make little noise and certainly don't spew out exhaust fumes.