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I was reminded once again yesterday of the utility of backpack blowers. There is nothing that works better for getting the gravel back onto the driveway after a winter of blading the snow/gravel mix onto the side. And quickly. Forget the rake- even power rakes for the job. Backpack blowers are the bomb. And all of it goes back. It defies logic.
I paved about 600 feet of my driveway 10 years ago, in part to eliminate the annual spring chore of raking gravel. Definitely would have thought twice about it if I had a gas powered backpack blower for the job (but knowing about the $1500 annual property tax increase for the improvement would have put the kibosh on that deal anyway). Even so, there is about 400 feet of driveway to a machine shed that remains graveled with 1" road limestone. The backpack blower turns 3 hours of gravel raking drudgery into about 20 minutes of ease.
Mine is a Husqvarna 350 something or other but I am sure any of the other quality machines out there would work too. I first bought it to blow mown grass off of the driveway and sidewalks but found it to be useful for many unlikely tasks. It works great for 'disappearing' cut grass from windrows and thatch in the yard after mowing, eliminating the need for collection. Spotlessly sweep the garage in a minute. Pinecones? Gone. Of course it efficiently blows leaves but unless you only have a light dusting, forget about using one for snow removal.
It's one of those things that will make you wonder what you did without.
I paved about 600 feet of my driveway 10 years ago, in part to eliminate the annual spring chore of raking gravel. Definitely would have thought twice about it if I had a gas powered backpack blower for the job (but knowing about the $1500 annual property tax increase for the improvement would have put the kibosh on that deal anyway). Even so, there is about 400 feet of driveway to a machine shed that remains graveled with 1" road limestone. The backpack blower turns 3 hours of gravel raking drudgery into about 20 minutes of ease.
Mine is a Husqvarna 350 something or other but I am sure any of the other quality machines out there would work too. I first bought it to blow mown grass off of the driveway and sidewalks but found it to be useful for many unlikely tasks. It works great for 'disappearing' cut grass from windrows and thatch in the yard after mowing, eliminating the need for collection. Spotlessly sweep the garage in a minute. Pinecones? Gone. Of course it efficiently blows leaves but unless you only have a light dusting, forget about using one for snow removal.
It's one of those things that will make you wonder what you did without.
