to leaf blowing?

This is what I am wondering today.  I’ve had my leaf blower for about 2 years, and I must confess that I do not seem to have grasped whatever nuances there are.

You’d think it would be easy, right?

It’s a blast of air.

Point at the leaves, and they blow away.

Well, yeah.

They do.

Blow away.

But, here’s the thing.  They blow in multiple directions.  So, I very carefully clear off one section of the driveway, say, and as soon as I move to the next section, I am blowing leaves back over the cleared portion.  It’s…disheartening.

Now, the lawn guys I see working around the neighborhood don’t seem to have this problem.  They go whooshing around, jump back in their trucks, and leave behind a nice clear driveway.

That’s not what happens for me.  I blow the leaves off the rocks in the flower beds, and they land on the front porch.  I blow them off the porch, and they’re back in the flower beds.  I don’t think I’m getting the hang of it at all.

I’ve googled.

I don’t find any new ideas, really, except for one guy who suggested making sure your beer is covered before you start leaf blowing.  That wasn’t exactly the kind of thing I was looking for.

Now, I don’t want you to think I’m buried in leaves.  I have had some success.  (Some?  My budget for bags is BIG.)

I’ve been blowing leaves since October and expect to continue through March.   First, the sweet gum leaves fall and the popcorn tree drops its foliage.  Then the crepe myrtles and various other trees to which I have not been introduced (so I don’t know their names).  Right about now, the cypress needles start drifting across the yard.  I think the water oaks begin just when you think everything is done.

Leaf removal is a six month (at least) task.  I don’t even try to get all of them up.  I just try to keep the hardscape clear.

I’m not terrible at it, but I’m wondering if there’s a way to be better.

I’d just like to be able to aim with slightly more…specificity.  Is that too much to ask?