There is one thing every homeowner dreads in the fall: Leaf removal. If you’ve got a leafy lawn, you know this chore puts your body to the test every year. Here are a few leaf removal hacks to make getting rid of those leaves a little bit easier.
The Importance of Leaf Removal
Maybe you’re sitting there thinking, “Do I really have to deal with the leaves this year?” The short answer is, yes. And here’s why. Your lawn needs to breathe. A thick blanket of leaves laying on top of your grass acts as a barrier. Water and nutrients aren’t able to enter the soil. This will cause your lawn to suffer in the spring.
Also, leaving piles of leaves in your yard is just an open invitation for critters! Bacteria and fungi are some of the microscopic organisms that like to come feed on leaves, decomposing them and converting them into beneficial chemicals and minerals that can be absorbed by plants. Some other animals that will enjoy that leafy shelter include: slugs, snails, worms, centipedes, spiders and beetles. Additional unwelcome guests you might stumble upon are SNAKES! Long story short, getting rid of the leaf piles is necessary for your lawn and your sanity!
Hack #1 – Mulch the leaves with your lawnmower.
When you mulch the leaves into tiny pieces and leave them on your lawn, you are actually doing your grass a favor. Mulching leaves takes nutrients from the leaves and transfers them into the soil. Another benefit of mulching? It suppresses weeds. Backyard Boss says, “Mulching leaves can reduce dandelions by about 84% in the next season.”
When mulching leaves with a lawn mower:
- Use a mulching mower or a mulching kit that is compatible with your mower.
- Ensure your mower has an aggressive, high-lift mulching blade.
- Start when there are only a few leaves on the ground and repeat weekly as leaves fall.
- Keep the blade around 2.5 – 3 inches high.
Hack #2 – Utilize a leaf blower.
It sounds self-explanatory, but if you have a strategy when leaf blowing, you’ll cut down on the time you spend backtracking. Pick where you want the leaves to go and plan for how you’ll get rid of them once they’re in a pile. The leaf blower will take care of the rest.
When leaf blowing your yard, consider the following tips:
- Find the right size leaf blower for your yard.
- Don’t worry about getting every single leaf, but focus on making a large pile.
- Wait for calm or now wind and dry weather.
- Work in the same direction the whole time.
- Hold the blower at your side and point down at an angle.
Hack #3 – Use two rakes.
The time-tested method of raking leaves is as reliable as ever. You can remove leaves with precision without disturbing your neighbors. But have you ever tried raking with two rakes at the same time? Using two rakes takes a little bit of upper body strength, but will save your back when it comes time to pick up the leaves.
Put one rake in each arm and use them like tongs to grab large amounts of leaves at one time. You can easily put them into a bag, trash can, or wheelbarrow this way.
Hack #4 – Choose a calm, dry day.
Windy conditions make raking, mulching, or leaf blowing nearly impossible. Wind will work against you and send those leaves in all different directions. Choose a day with calm to no wind to remove the leaves in your yard. This is one of the simplest and most important leaf removal hacks!
Additionally, pick a dry day to work on your leaves. Wet leaves are heavier and harder to rake. Make it easier on yourself by waiting for the right weather.
Hack #5 – Rake with the wind and the slope.
If there’s a breeze, determine which way it’s blowing. Work with the wind, and rake in the same direction. This same rule applies if you have a slope to your yard. Raking downhill will make the job much easier.
Hack #6 – Make a plan for the raked leaves.
What are you going to do with the leaves once you’ve collected them all? Some trash removal services won’t pick up leaves, so you might need to make other arrangements. Contact your city to inquire about the rules on burning leaves before you go this route.
Hack #7 – Use a reliable container for the leaves.
There’s nothing worse than spending all the time and effort getting leaves into a bag for the bag to give out on you. Back to square one! It’s worth investing in large, thick trash bags that have the drawstring. These are the most reliable and easiest to use if you’re going to use bags.
Other containers you could use to hold leaves include:
- Trash can
- Wheelbarrow
- Cardboard box
- Tarp
We hope these leaf removal hacks help. Bring the cleaning party inside! Click here for our Fall Cleaning Checklist.