Concerning the use of leaf blowers to rid lawns of fallen leaves, Marie Iannotti quips, "These are very popular in suburbia and I've never figured out why. They are loud, heavy and the user always seems to wind up fixated on blowing that last renegade leaf, keeping at it long after I could have walked over, bent down and picked it up." The image thus conjured up is enough to make one take a second look at good, old-fashioned lawn rakes. Better yet, suggests About's Gardening Guide, consider some of the new and improved lawn rakes now available.