If you live in an area where regular snowfall is normal, then you are going to want to make sure that your winter law care strategy involves keeping your grass free of clutter and debris before the first snow should fall. Proper lawn maintenance in preparation for the first winter snow involves removing sticks, raking away the leaves and disposing of any other debris that should not be on your yard, before they end up buried beneath the snow.

Even if you are not exactly expending a great deal of snowfall, it is still vital that you make sure that your grass is free to breathe rather than left buried beneath piles of leaves, sticks and other rubbish. This rubbish can interfere with the grass needing to receive proper air, proper nutrients and proper moisture which is why it is so important that you clean up your yard before the first snowfall. Your grass may not be growing during this period of time, but if left buried for too long, it can still end up dying during the winter season.

Many people make the mistake of thinking that the summer is the most important season when it comes to controlling and preventing the growth of weeds. The opposite, however, is actually true because weed control is most important during the winter season. Weeds actually grow much more quickly during the winter than your grass can. If the weeds are allowed to grow without any control, your lawn may be dead by the time the spring runs around.

Because your lawn will be growing so slowly during the fall and winter season, it is rather simple to find the weeds that are growing during this time. All you have to do is make sure that you pay attention to your grass during these months, pulling weeds or applying weed killer as needed so that the weeds do not overrun the lawn, ruining your landscaping during the colder season.

If you plan on planting winter grass varieties like rye grass, then these will have the best chance of thriving when planted in October, which is the best time for them to take root. Make sure that your newly planted grass seeds get plenty of water even when the weather is chilly outside.

Echo PB-265LC
Est. $260

This mid-priced backpack blower is appropriate for most homeowners, according to reviews. Rated at 65 decibels, this is the quietest backpack blower in this price range, and it only weighs 14.5 pounds. It can't vacuumleaves, but reviews say it performs and handles well. The Echo ProLite has electronic ignition and cruise control, and it comes with a five-year warranty for homeowner use.

Reviews recommend this mid-price backpack blower as a good choice for most homeowners with big yards (and lots of leaves). Rated at 65 decibels, this is the quietest gasoline backpack blower in this price range, and although it weighs 13.3 pounds, it comes with a padded backrest and adjustable shoulder straps. It can't vacuum leaves, but reviews say it starts easily and performs and handles well. The Echo PB-265LC has electronic ignition and variable speeds with cruise control, and it comes with a five-year warranty for homeowner use. If your blowing can be done within 150 feet of an outlet, however, reviews recommend the lighter, quieter electric Toro Ultra Blower Vac 51599 (*est. $75), which can also vacuum leaves and chop them into mulch.
We found the best review of the Echo PB-265LC at Consumer Reports magazine, where it's ranked in relation to six other gas backpack blowers based on objective tests of performance in sweeping, loosening and vacuuming debris, along with ratings for handling and noise.

Leaf Blowers Runners Up:
Black & Decker BV4000 Leaf Hog *Est. $100
3 picks by top review sites.
Toro Super Blower Vac 51592 *Est. $65
3 picks by top review sites.

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The best handheld electric blowers have long beaten their gasoline-fueled competitors with comparable power and less weight and noise. This year's electrics are an even better value.

Three new corded electric blower-vacs outperformed our highest-scoring handheld gas model at about half the price. The top-scoring model includes a metal impeller that should stand up to vacuumed twigs better than the typical nylon version. Yet at $70, it costs $15 less than the model it replaced. (See our Ratingsfor specifics, available to subscribers.)

Need the greater range of a gas blower? Manufacturers are cutting costs on larger backpack models by using the smaller impellers from their handheld machines. And nearly all gas blowers we tested meet this year's tougher emissions requirements for sale in California.

You'll also hear more claims about quietness as a mark of the best power blowers as communities increasingly crack down on gas-blower noise. Other features promise easier gas-engine starts with less fussing and fiddling. But our weeks in the field blowing and vacuuming leaves and other yard debris showed some of those boasts to be overblown.

CR Quick Recommendations

Our testing revealed wide performance variations, though the best of each blower type--electric and gas handheld, backpack, and wheeled--swept and loosened debris well. But even the top performers tend to be better at one or the other task, and many don't vacuum.

The Ratings list models by overall performance. (See Types, to decide which type is best for your yard. ) Our Quick Picks below highlights models that combine specific strengths and value:

Best for many properties, with fine blowing and vacuuming:
Toro Ultra Blower Vac 51599, $70, CR Best Buy
Toro Super Blower Vac 51592, $60, CR Best Buy
Toro Rake and Vac 51574, $50

All three electrics are fine values if you can manage a power cord. A metal impeller makes the Toro Ultra Blower Vac 51599 best for vacuuming twigs and other tough stuff; the Toro Rake and Vac 51574 costs and weighs the least. Also consider the ultralight, blower-only Weed Eater WEB160 WEB150, $30, for lighter-duty tasks.

If you want cord-free blowing:
Stihl BG55, $140, CR Best Buy
Ryobi RY08548, $130

Both handheld blowers are gas-powered. The Stihl is lighter than most. The Ryobi is heavier and noisier for neighbors, and its vac mode is ineffective, but its blower performance matches the Stihl's.

For larger properties and heavy-duty cleanup chores:
Echo PB-265L, $260, CR Best Buy
Echo PB-260L, $270
Kawasaki KRB300A, $230
Little Wonder 9502, $650

The Echo and Kawasaki backpacks are relatively light and inexpensive, and they should meet typical noise limits. Choose the wheeled Little Wonder for maximum power where noise isn't an issue. Consider the Husqvarna Husqvarna 356BFx, $450, if you're willing to pay for more power in a backpack model.