Quick verdict
A leaf vacuum pointed at a stone garden eats stones and ruins its impeller, so the method is to blow leaves out of the stones onto a path or lawn at low speed, then vacuum them there. The Worx WG583 is the best cordless for that two-step; the corded Trivac WG509 mulches finest; the Greenworks 48V has the most power with two packs. Keep the vacuum tube above the stones always.
Worx 40V 3-in-1 Blower, Vacuum and Mulcher WG583
A stone garden wants a vacuum with a wide tube that lifts leaves without pulling pea gravel, and a cordless tool that reaches the back bed without a cord. The Worx WG583 blows at 340 CFM and 210 MPH, vacuums and mulches at a 12 to 1 ratio with a brushless motor, and runs on two 20V Power Share packs. The blower mode at low speed moves leaves out of the stones first.
The best leaf vacuums for small stone gardens: Worx 40V WG583, corded Worx Trivac WG509 and Greenworks 48V 520 CFM with two batteries, compared on mulch ratio, airflow, runtime and stone safety.
The picks at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Score /100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worx 40V 3-in-1 Blower, Vacuum and Mulcher WG583 | Best Cordless for Stone Gardens | 8.6 | Check price |
| Worx Trivac WG509 12 Amp 3-in-1 Blower, Vacuum and Mulcher | Best Corded With Finest Mulch | 8.5 | Check price |
| Greenworks 48V 520 CFM Blower and Vacuum with Two 4 Ah Batteries | Most Power With Two Batteries | 8.5 | Check price |
The picks, reviewed
Worx 40V 3-in-1 Blower, Vacuum and Mulcher WG583
A stone garden wants a vacuum with a wide tube that lifts leaves without pulling pea gravel, and a cordless tool that reaches the back bed without a cord. The Worx WG583 blows at 340 CFM and 210 MPH, vacuums and mulches at a 12 to 1 ratio with a brushless motor, and runs on two 20V Power Share packs. The blower mode at low speed moves leaves out of the stones first.
Reasons to buy
- Cordless blow, vacuum and mulch
- Brushless motor
- 12 to 1 mulch ratio
- Power Share packs
Reasons to avoid
- 340 CFM blower is modest
- Vacuum lifts small stones if held too low
- Bag fills fast with dry leaves
Worx Trivac WG509 12 Amp 3-in-1 Blower, Vacuum and Mulcher
The corded Trivac WG509 is the long-running favorite for exactly this: 350 CFM and 210 MPH blowing, an 18 to 1 mulch ratio that shreds leaves fine enough to compost or mulch the beds, and unlimited runtime from an outlet. It converts between modes with a lever and the metal impeller handles twigs.
Reasons to buy
- 18 to 1 mulch ratio
- Unlimited runtime
- Metal impeller
- One-lever mode change
Reasons to avoid
- Corded
- Impeller is damaged by stones
- Heavier in vacuum mode
Greenworks 48V 520 CFM Blower and Vacuum with Two 4 Ah Batteries
Two 24V packs give the Greenworks 48V the most airflow here, 520 CFM and 240 MPH, with a brushless motor and a tool-free switch between blowing and vacuuming. Greenworks names gravel and patio debris in its purpose, which for a stone garden means the blower mode has the speed to clear leaves out of the stones before the vacuum collects them.
Reasons to buy
- 520 CFM and 240 MPH
- Two 4 Ah packs included
- Tool-free mode change
- Brushless
Reasons to avoid
- Vacuum pulls stones at full power
- Heavier with two packs
- Greenworks 24V is a smaller platform
The problem with vacuums and stones
A leaf vacuum is a fan that pulls air through a tube into a bag, and it does not know the difference between a leaf and a pebble. Point one at a gravel bed and it lifts the pea stone, which rattles through the impeller and bag and ruins both. So a stone garden is cleared in two steps: blow the leaves out of the stones at low speed onto the path or lawn, then vacuum them there. That means the right tool is a blower-vac with a usable low-speed blower mode and a mulcher that shrinks the pile. The three here are blower-vacs that do both.
This guide is built from the published specifications and manuals of each tool and from recurring owner feedback. We have not run these tools ourselves.
How the three compare
| Tool | Blow | Mulch ratio | Power | Mode change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worx WG583 | 340 CFM, 210 MPH | 12 to 1 | 40V, two 20V packs | Tube swap |
| Worx Trivac WG509 | 350 CFM, 210 MPH | 18 to 1 | 12 amp corded | One lever |
| Greenworks 48V 520 | 520 CFM, 240 MPH | Standard | Two 24V 4 Ah packs | Tool-free |
Worx WG583: cordless for the back bed
Stone gardens are often at the far end of the yard, and the cordless Worx WG583 reaches them. The blower mode at 340 CFM and 210 MPH, run at its lower speed, lifts leaves out of gravel without moving stone; the vacuum mode collects them off the path with a brushless motor and a 12 to 1 mulch ratio. The two 20V Power Share packs are shared with Worx trimmers and drills.
Worx Trivac WG509: the finest mulch
The corded Trivac has been the blower-vac benchmark for years because of its 18 to 1 mulch ratio, which turns a mountain of leaves into a bag of fine shred that goes straight back onto the beds as mulch. It blows at 350 CFM and 210 MPH, changes modes with one lever and has a metal impeller that shrugs off twigs. It needs an outlet, and the impeller still will not forgive gravel.
Greenworks 48V 520 CFM: the most power
Two 24V 4 Ah packs give the Greenworks the most airflow here, 520 CFM and 240 MPH, which is enough to clear wet leaves out of stones on the blower setting and plenty for the vacuum. The mode change is tool-free and the brushless motor is quiet. At full power the vacuum will lift small stones if the tube touches them, so the tube stays high.
Clearing a stone garden
Start with the blower on low, nozzle at a shallow angle, and move leaves from among the plants and stones onto the nearest hard surface. Switch to vacuum and collect the pile there with the tube an inch above the ground. Empty the bag onto the compost or back onto the beds as mulch. Do it on a dry day, twice each fall. If a stone does go through, stop and check the impeller for cracks before continuing.
Which one should you buy
Buy the Worx WG583 for a cordless blower-vac that reaches the back bed. Buy the Worx Trivac WG509 for the finest mulch near an outlet. Buy the Greenworks 48V for the most airflow with two batteries in the kit.
How we research
This guide is built from the published specifications, manuals and warranty terms of each product and from recurring owner feedback. We have not run these products ourselves; where a maker does not publish a figure we say so rather than guess.
What to look for
Blow first, vacuum second
Vacuums pull stones. Blow leaves out of the bed onto a hard surface, then vacuum. Any blower-vac needs a decent blower mode.
Mulch ratio
A high ratio shreds leaves fine for compost or mulch and fills the bag slower.
Impeller
Metal impellers survive the occasional twig; none survives a steady diet of gravel.
Cord or battery
Corded for unlimited runtime near an outlet; battery for beds at the back of the garden.
Our verdict
A leaf vacuum pointed at a stone garden eats stones and ruins its impeller, so the method is to blow leaves out of the stones onto a path or lawn at low speed, then vacuum them there. The Worx WG583 is the best cordless for that two-step; the corded Trivac WG509 mulches finest; the Greenworks 48V has the most power with two packs. Keep the vacuum tube above the stones always.
FAQs
No. The vacuum pulls pea gravel with the leaves and the stones destroy the impeller. Blow the leaves out first.
A few if the tube touches the surface. Keep the tube an inch or two above the stones and work on a path or lawn.
How much the leaves are reduced. An 18 to 1 ratio turns eighteen bags of leaves into one of shredded mulch.
For leaves among plants and stones, a low-speed blower is better than both. The vacuum is for collecting the pile afterward.
