Last updated on May 19th, 2022
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Have you ever mowed your lawn with your ride-on lawnmower and sighed at all the grass clippings, leaves and other garden bits left behind? A tow-behind sweeper for lawns and leaves could become your next favourite garden tool. The leaves on your lawn make it look untidy and are a danger to the lawn’s health despite how much time you spend caring for it. Save the time and effort of raking up everything by hitching a lawn sweeper to the back of your tractor lawnmower.
This review of the Best Tow-Behind Lawn and Leaf Sweepers highlights the sweepers that impressed us the most. We review each of the sweepers in detail. We explain why we like them and the kinds of lawns and gardeners they suit.
Our Buyer’s Guide describes the features to look for in making your lawn and leaf sweeper decision.
BEST PICK
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Agri-Fab has an excellent reputation for quality products and backs that up with a five-year warranty for this lawn sweeper. If you want the ability to save time and effort by mowing and sweeping your large lawn at the same time, the Agri-Fab AG45-0492 44-inch Towed Lawn and Leaf Sweeper could be the best tow behind leaf and lawn sweeper for you. To be clear, the sweeper doesn't cut grass itself you need to be using a ride-on lawnmower but because you can offset the sweeper, you can sweep the leaves and then mow.
RUNNER UP
SCH Trailed Sweeper TS98
The SCH Trailed Sweeper TS98 is a durable and easy to care for lawn and leaf sweeper. It cannot be used while mowing as it cannot be offset, and it’s smaller than our Best Pick. However, its smaller size makes it ideal for medium-sized lawns. This sweeper is made for heavy use and easy maintenance, making it a good choice for professionals despite the slightly smaller hopper size.
While the body of the sweeper is made of long-lasting plastic, the brush shaft is of stainless steel. The four brushes are easily changed when they wear out without having to take the sweeper apart. This model’s sweeping width is relatively wide at 91cm but the overall width is around 130cm.
If you mow lawns frequently or mow many lawns, the Durable SCH Trailed Sweeper TS98 will sweep up all the clippings and garden debris with efficiency. We also recommend this sweeper as the best leaf sweeper for tractors.
Best Tow-Behind Lawn and Leaf Sweepers Reviews
1. Agri-Fab AG45-0492 44-inch Towed Lawn and Leaf Sweeper
BEST PICK
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The Agri-Fab AG45-0492 44-inch Towed Lawn and Leaf Sweeper does everything its name says it does. But its name doesn’t mention that this sweeper has an offset hitch that allows you to mow and sweep your lawn at the same time. This hitch also lets you sweep right up to fences, walls and other garden obstacles to get all the garden debris that’s settled there.
With its universal hitch, the Agri-Fab AG45-0492 can be hitched up to any brand of garden tractor or zero-turn lawnmower. The sweeping width of the brushes is 112cm which allows you to sweep a large strip at a time. The manufacturer states that this Agri-Fab AG45-0492 sweeper covers the ground 28% faster than a narrower sweeper with a width of 86.5cm.
Two semi-pneumatic tyres ensure the sweeper travels smoothly over the lawn, not causing any damage. You don’t need to make multiple passes across your lawn because the no-skip design stops the wheels skipping so the sweeper won’t miss anything the first time around which can be a problem with cheaper alternatives.
Four brushes ensure that all the debris is swept into the collection box. Adjust the brush height quickly and easily from one central button. Reviewers online have said that you need to experiment with your mower’s speed and the brushes’ height to find the best combination for your lawn.
The collection box is removable and collapsible for storage which is super handy if you’re short of storage space. You don’t need to frequently take off the bag to empty it either because it holds an impressive 708 litres of debris. When it is full, reach comfortably down from your seat to pull the ergonomic lever that empties the grass clippings so you don’t even need to get off the tractor to empty the hopper.
Agri-Fab has a reputation for producing high-quality products. If you don’t know their reputation, the five-year warranty with this lawn sweeper should convince you of their belief in their products.
Our recommendation
The Agri-Fab AG45-0492 44-inch Towed Lawn and Leaf Sweeper provides the convenience to mow and sweep your lawn at the same time, which is what makes this model one of the best. Its extra-large collection box (708L) ensures that you spend your time and effort getting your lawn into good condition rather than running to the compost heap frequently to empty it.
We’ve made the Agri-Fab AG45-0492 44-inch Towed Lawn and Leaf Sweeper our Best Pick of Tow-Behind Lawn and Leaf Sweepers for its dual mowing and sweeping function, the impressive collection box and the five-year warranty.
If you have a limited amount of time to care for your large lawn or want to exert as least effort as possible, the Agri-Fab AG45-0492 44-inch Towed Lawn and Leaf Sweeper is an excellent choice.
2. SCH Trailed Sweeper TS98
RUNNER UP
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The SCH Trailed Sweeper TS98 is a durable leaf and lawn sweeper for medium to large-sized gardens. It’s made of rigid plastic for easy maintenance and durability. The all-metal drive mechanism allows for prolonged heavy use, so you don’t have to worry about only having short lawn sweeping sessions. It has really been made with professionals in mind in that is manufactured to last.
The brush shaft is also made of durable metal – stainless steel in this case. The four rows of brushes are on the brush shaft which is split in the middle. This differential delivers twice the efficiency and power of a single drive wheel. Each of the dual-drive wheels individually powers the sweeper brushes.
A relatively wide-sweeping width of 91cm is in proportion to the size of medium and large lawns. To set the brushes in the correct place, adjust the height until the bristle tips are a very small distance from the ground. The brushes are easily replaceable on the drive shaft without having to disturb the rest of the leaf sweeper.
The collection box holds 270 litres of grass clippings. While this is not the largest bag in this review, you still will not have to go to the compost pile very often to empty it. If you use the SCH Trailed Sweeper TS98 just in dry conditions, its maintenance requirements are low. Just wash down the mower to remove any debris. Of course, you still need regular scheduled full maintenance to keep the sweeper in good shape, as you would with any type of machinery.
This leaf sweeper is the most expensive one in our review so consider it an investment. The sweeper comes with a one-year warranty.
Our recommendation
The SCH Trailed Sweeper TS98 is made for heavy and long-term use. The centre-split brush shaft delivers twice the regular performance to the drive wheels, so you sweep more efficiently. This lawn sweeper’s hard plastic body lasts a long time and is easy to maintain after every use – just rinse it down. The collection box holds 270L of clippings which is large enough to keep you sweeping your lawn and not running to the compost heap frequently.
The SCH Trailed Sweeper TS98 is our Runner-up for best tow behind lawn and leaf sweepers. We like its ease of maintenance and its ability to sweep long and hard.
If you’re working hard with your lawnmower by using it often and for long periods, the SCH Trailed Sweeper TS98 can keep up with it. It is also a great choice for professional grounds maintenance people.
3. Cobra TLS107 42inch Towed Lawn Sweeper
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The Cobra TLS107 42″ Towed Lawn Sweeper is easy to attach to lawn tractors and ATVs through its universal hitch. It’s suitable for clearing parks and large grassy areas.
The sweeping width of the Cobra TLS107 is a highly productive and generous 107cm. This makes the sweeping up of grass and other bits on your lawn incredibly efficient. This efficiency is supported by a generous 365 litre capacity collection hopper. Both of these together allow plenty of industrious working time, though you may be done quickly with this combination. Sitting comfortably on your lawnmower seat, you empty the easy-tip hopper with the pull of a lever.
The sweeping brushes are 25cm in diameter, almost the same diameter as the rubber wheels (27cm). A single lever lets you adjust the brushes to the correct height.
A two-year warranty is provided with this lawn and leaf sweeper. This is one of the cheapest tow behind lawn and leaf sweepers in our review which means it offers excellent value for money.
Our recommendation
The Cobra TLS107 42″ Towed Lawn Sweeper has a broad sweeping width almost as wide as our Best Pick, the Agri-Fab AG45-0492 44-inch Towed Lawn and Leaf Sweeper. Its collection hopper is of mid-size but you don’t have to leave your seat to empty it.
We recommend the Cobra TLS107 42″ Towed Lawn Sweeper if you want a sweeper for a large lawn but you don’t have a large budget.
4. Handy 38 inch Towed Lawn Sweeper
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The Handy 38 inch Towed Lawn Sweeper works well in medium to large-sized gardens. Its sweeping width, at 96.5cm, is not the widest in our reviews, but it’s enough for fast sweeping and picking up. The sweeper’s poly construction makes it both lightweight and durable, as well as easy to clean.
The brushes and wheels are both 25cm wide which makes for a smooth and even ride. The brushes are height adjustable from a central control. At the back of the sweeper is a 280 litre plastic collection bag to hold all the grass clippings. This size of the collection bag is probably too small to use on a large lawn without frequent emptying but this sweeper works well for collecting leaves in the autumn.
Our recommendation
The Handy 38 inch Towed Lawn Sweeper is one of the cheapest sweepers in this review. Its sweeping width and relatively small (for a sweeper) collection bag make it suitable for small to medium-sized areas of lawn, especially if the grass is covered in leaves.
If you’re on a budget for your garden equipment but still want a lawn and leaf sweeper, take a look at the Handy 38 inch Towed Lawn Sweeper.
Buyer’s Guide
The tow-behind part of the sweepers in our review of Best Tow-Behind Lawn and Leaf Sweepers refers to hitching the sweeper up to a ride-on lawnmower, lawn tractor, ATV or zero-turn mower. The sweeper cleans your lawn of grass clippings, leaves and other organic debris that’s landed there.
Several features are important to consider to find the best tow behind leaf and lawn sweeper for you.
Construction
Most tow-behind sweepers are made from polycarbonate or metal, or sometimes both. Poly construction is light, durable and easy to clean. Stamped steel housings can withstand use season after season.
Mow and/or sweep
Most of the tow behind lawn and leaf sweepers have one task only – to sweep and clean your lawn. However, our Best Pick can be used with a ride-on lawnmower, cutting the grass at the same time as sweeping the lawn, so you can do all your lawn care in one shot which can be super handy. As the collection bag on a leaf and lawn sweeper is much larger than the ones on most lawnmowers, you may want to cut and discharge your grass and let the sweeper collect the grass clippings. You won’t make as many trips to empty the collection bag/box this way.
Brushes
The brushes are perhaps the most important consideration when choosing your leaf sweeper. The best tow behind leaf and lawn sweepers have durable brushes and don’t damage your grass when you use them. Easily changeable brushes are another feature to look out for because the brushes do become worn out over time.
The width of each sweeper’s brush determines how many passes you need to make over your lawn to completely clean it. Larger brushes obviously sweep the lawn in fewer passes but may be too wide for small to medium-sized lawns.
A central button or lever to adjust the height of the brushes is also useful, especially if you don’t have to leave your lawnmower seat to do so. For the best performance from the sweeper, place the tips of the brush bristles just above the ground.
Collection bag/box/hopper
The collection box, hopper or bag on a lawn and leaf sweeper has one main advantage over the collection bag on your lawnmower – it’s much larger. In this review, our Best Pick, the Agri-Fab AG45-0492 44-inch Towed Lawn and Leaf Sweeper has a massive 708 litre collection box. This is more than 10 times the size of many lawnmower collection bags.
You won’t have to get down from your mower to empty a box of this size (or even a bit smaller) too often. Many sweepers let you empty the box from the seat of your lawnmower. Just back the mower up to your compost pile and pull a lever.
Seasonal use
Tow behind lawn and leaf sweepers are useful in three seasons of the year. Consider it as an investment that reduces your time and effort spent on lawn care in the pre-, during and after- growing seasons.
Quickly pick up all the winter debris in the spring with one sweep of your lawn.
In the summer, the adjustable height on the brushes lets you sweep at the right height, no matter how long you cut your grass.
Your tow behind lawn and leaf sweeper takes care of all the fallen leaves in the autumn.
Final Conclusion
If you’ve invested in a ride-on lawnmower or tractor, you probably have large areas of grass to mow. A tow behind lawn and leaf sweeper cleans your lawn by picking up all the clippings, leaves and other garden debris on your lawn that the mower misses. This type of sweeper is useful in spring (for winter debris), summer (for grass clippings) and autumn (for leaves).
The size of the collection bag, box or hopper on these sweepers is many times larger than the collection bag or box on your lawnmower. You don’t have to make that time-consuming trip to the compost pile as often to empty the bag.
Our Best Pick is the Agri-Fab AG45-0492 44-inch Towed Lawn and Leaf Sweeper. This sweeper can be used at the same time as mowing your lawn as well as sweeping it. That means two essential time-consuming lawn care tasks can be accomplished in one pass of your lawn.
Our Runner-up is the SCH Trailed Sweeper TS98. This sweeper is an investment but it’s designed to last a long time and handle frequent and prolonged sweeping sessions.
If you like the idea of a tow behind lawn and leaf sweeper but don’t have a ride-on mower/lawn tractor or maybe you need a new one, check out our review about them.
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Last update on 2024-12-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
