When deciding between getting a lawn sweeper or bagger for your lawn mower, how do you know which is right for you? Well, there are a few big questions you need to ask yourself first. Why do you want one of these tools, when do you want to use it, and how will you operate it? These three questions will definitely play a big role in deciding whether a lawn sweeper vs. a bagger is best for you.
So, let’s take a closer look and see what makes these two tools so different.
Pros of Lawn Sweeper
A lawn sweeper is basically a wide, stiff brush that spins as the tool moves along the ground and collects debris into a hopper. It is pretty simple and very effective. So, what makes a sweeper a good choice for your lawn? Let’s take a look.
You Don’t Need a Lawn Mower
The first thing to point out about lawn sweepers is that they come in a variety of sizes, and not all of them need a lawn mower to pull them. Companies like Scotts make a small 21-inch sweeper that you can push around your lawn to collect any debris you want to be removed. So, this means you don’t need to own a tractor mower or a zero-turn lawn mower to pull your sweeper around.
You Don’t Need to Be Mowing to Use a Sweeper
One of the most common times you’ll want to use a sweeper is during the fall for collecting leaves. During the fall season, you likely will be mowing less, which won’t limit you when using a sweeper. This is because sweepers are unlike bagging systems which only operate when cutting. Large sweepers only use a lawn mower to pull them around the yard. So, if you don’t want to mow the lawn but need to sweep it to collect leaves, then you can hitch the sweeper to the back of your mower without running the blades, and you’re good to go.
Sweepers Start at a Low Price
Small entry-level sweepers start at around $100. So this means that a sweeper is a good choice if you are looking for a budget-friendly option. Even the large sweepers that need to be towed behind a riding lawn mower are surprisingly affordable, considering the amount of work they can do. Prices seem to fall anywhere between $200 – $600, depending on the width and brand. So, sweepers are a much cheaper option than bagging kits for riding lawn mowers.
Sweepers Can Pick Up More than Just Grass & Leaves
Like a lawn mower bagging system, a sweeper can collect grass clippings, leaves, and dethatching material. But because the brushes actually sweep across the floor, sweepers also pick up things like small rocks, pine cones, pine needles, and even worm casts. I’m not sure about you, but I certainly don’t want rocks and pine cones going through my lawn mower if I can help it.
Easy to Use
Most larger lawn sweepers have a rope connected to the hopper that allows you to empty it into your dumping area in just a few seconds. There is no need to get off your lawn mower and start messing with clipping bags. You just pull the rope and dump. Big bags on a riding lawn mower, if they are full, can be a real workout, especially if you have to empty them a few times.
No Complicated Modification Required
If your lawn mower already has a tow hitch, then all you need to do is attach the sweeper as if connecting a trailer to a truck. All you have to do is line up the holes and install the hitch pin. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to attach and detach a bagger to the system.
Pros of Bagger
So, what is a bagger? Well, it’s just a bag attached to your lawn mower to collect debris from the cutting deck. Most push lawn mowers already have them installed, but tractors and riding lawn mowers, unfortunately, don’t. Well, getting set up with a bagger will take a bit more effort, but is it worth it? Let’s take a look.
Less Material To Deal With
One of the big differences between a lawn sweeper vs bagger is that a bagger receives chopped-up material from your lawn mower cutting deck. This means your debris will take up a lot less space in your compost or a trash bag. If you have limited space to take the debris, a bagger is a better option.
Less Need to Empty
Generally speaking, baggers need to be emptied less often because your lawn mower will chop the debris down into a much more compact size. If you have a large lawn or area to clean, you’ll find yourself making fewer trips to the dump pile with a bagger than a sweeper, especially if you are collecting leaves.
Easier to Control
Depending on how good you are at reversing a trailer, a bagger might be a better option. This is because baggers are integral to the lawn mower and are not towed. If you don’t like the idea of having to reverse a lawn sweeper around your yard, or your yard might have too many tight spaces, then a bagging system is likely much easier to navigate. There is no jackknifing with a bagger.
Less Extra Storage Space Required
Usually, a bagging system on the back of a lawn tractor will extend the lawn mowers length by maybe a foot or two. In contrast, the tow behind the lawn sweeper could be as much as four or five feet. A bagging system is probably the better option if your garage is struggling for space.
Factors that Will Impact Your Decision
So, if you are still on the fence about getting a lawn sweeper or bagger, let’s take a look at the three big questions and see if these help you make a decision.
Why Do You Want a Lawn Sweeper vs Bagger?
One of the first considerations is why you want the bagger or sweeper in the first place. Are you looking to collect grass clippings, dethatch material, and pick up leaves? Plus, do you have anything else that might need to be collected? For example, if pine cones or other materials are part of the plan, a lawn sweeper would be a safer option to protect the mower blades and the cutting deck.
When Do You Want to Use Lawn Sweeper vs Bagger?
The only way to get a bagger to work effectively is to have the blades spinning and the cutting low enough to create the necessary airflow. Usually, this means you’ll be cutting the lawn, or you’ll have the deck lifted, and you’ll have to go very slowly to give the lawn mower a chance to pick up all the debris. As you can probably already tell, this is not a very effective way of collecting leaves if you don’t want to mow the lawn.
How are You Going to Operate the Lawn Sweeper vs Bagger?
If you have a lawn mower with a hitch and enough power to pull a sweeper, then you’ll be fine. This is the same if you have a lawn mower that can handle a bagging system. But if you find that your lawn mower isn’t suitable, then you’ll want to go for the tool you’ll actually be able to use. In the worst-case scenario, you can use a walk-behind sweeper.
My Recommendations for When to Use a Lawn Sweeper vs Bagger
Picking a lawn sweeper or bagger really comes down to your specific needs. A guy with a small yard and a push lawn mower will certainly have a different need than someone with a huge lawn and a big tractor mower. Most people with a large yard and a big lawn mower would go for a sweeper. But a guy with a push mower would probably do best using a push sweeper or investing in a lawn mower with a bagging system. Anything bigger is probably overkill.
So, to help you with your decision, I have put together this table to show you where I believe the two tools work best.
| Items | Lawn Sweeper Push Version | Lawn Sweeper Tow Version | Bagger System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawn Mower Required | x | x | |
| Mowing Required | x | ||
| Low-Cost Options | x | x | |
| Mower Modification Required | x | ||
| Easy to Use | x | x | |
| Compacts Material | x | ||
| Easy to Maneuver | x | x | |
| Requires Large Storage Area | x | x | |
| Small Yards | x | x | |
| Medium Yards | x | x | |
| Large Yards | x | x | |
| Grass Clipping | x | x | x |
| Dethatch Material | x | x | x |
| Leaves | x | x | x |
| Small Stick | x | x | x |
| Worm Casts | x | x | |
| Small Rocks | x | x |
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