I bought a Stihl BG 56C gas leaf blower for minimal use around my house. I use it to blow grass off my driveway, the leaves off the concrete areas around my shed and deck, and the pine straw off my roof. It is more than adequate for these tasks.
Stihl Gas Leaf Blower
The semi-automatic choke and the new start/stop switch make it virtually impossible to flood when starting this unit. The high-performance, low-emission engine makes quick work of leaves and other yard waste.