Fall foliage is an amazing sight to see, but all those colorful leaves eventually make their way to your lawn. Leaf cleanup and removal is at the top of most lawncare to-do lists, but it can be an extremely labor-intensive and time-consuming job if you aren’t prepared. When you have the right tools and tips to help with this, you will have more time to focus on the other fall activities you know and love. Follow the three steps below to make leaf cleanup and removal a more efficient process from now on.
Some people prefer to clean up leaves as they fall while other people wait until they have all fallen to the ground. Choose a schedule that works best for you, but it is important that you wait until the leaves are dry. You will also want to carefully select tools that work best for your space.
Leaf Rake:
A leaf rake is specially designed to gather dry leaves from the surface of your lawn. You can use a leaf rake for scooping, gathering, scraping, or leveling material such as leaves, mulch, or soil. If you have a small area to clear away leaves, this is a practical tool to incorporate in your leaf cleanup process.
Lawn Sweeper:
There are many benefits of a lawn sweeper. A rake can be hard work and time consuming, especially when you have a large area you are working with. A lawn sweeper makes things much easier on you and your lawn. With its durable brushes, it works smoothly so your grass never gets damaged while cleaning your lawn. A sweeper holds almost twice as much as a bagger, so you don’t have to empty the contents as often.
Leaf Blower:
Leaf blowers can significantly reduce cleanup time after raking if done properly. Many people tend to stand too close to the leaves which can blow them in all directions. For best results, start by sectioning the yard (creating a grid pattern). Then, work the leaf blower by going back and forth in rows.
Mulching Lawn Mower:
You can get rid of leaves while adding organic mulch to your lawn at the same time. If you have a lawn mower with a mulching setting, the blades will chop the dry leaves into small flakes. This will decompose quickly and add nutrients to your lawn.
Reusable Cleanup Tarp:
This is an eco-friendly solution to leaf cleanup. This tool is designed to make moving large piles of leaves and brush easier while holding up to 4 times more leaves and debris than a wheelbarrow or plastic bag.
Leaf Scoops:
Leaf scoops are a much simpler way to lift and load large amounts of dry leaves at a time. They are not only perfect for leaf gathering, but they are also great for other seasonal yard work such as picking up grass clippings, pine needles, weeds, thorny or poisonous plant trimmings, and all other lawn debris.
If you plan to rake, use leaf scoops, and/or a leaf blower as part of your leaf cleanup process, we recommend you lay a tarp on the ground near the space you are cleaning up. Push or blow the leaves onto the tarp for easy cleanup. Once the tarp is full, gently grab the edge of the tarp and drag it to wherever you are disposing the leaves.
Bagging your leaves is another way to clean them up from your lawn. Lawn bags make it easier to transport leaves to your compost or mulch pile. You can get more room out of the bag by stomping down on the leaves.
You can get rid of leaves while adding organic mulch to your lawn at the same time. If you have a lawn mower with a mulching setting, the blades will chop the dry leaves into small flakes. Leaf debris should be cut into dime-size pieces for it to be effective mulch. You should be able to see about half an inch of grass above the mulched layer of leaves. This will decompose quickly and add nutrients to your lawn. Composted leaves can be a source of food for your lawn that provides natural fertilization during the fall and winter months.
A tow-behind or push lawn sweeper is a worthwhile investment if you want to clean up leaves quickly and easily. Lawn sweepers not only pick up leaves and pine needles, but they also help manage acorns, twigs, and pinecones. A lawn sweeper has a rotating brush that gathers up the lawn debris into an attached hopper bag. Once the bag fills up, you can empty it onto a lawn bag, tarp, or compost pile.
After you gather your leaves, it’s time to dispose of them. You will want to check your city or town’s regulations controlling leaf blowing, bagging, and vacuuming if you choose one of these options.
Compost The Leaves
Once you have shredded the leaves with a mower, add the leaves to a compost bin or pile them up in your yard. Next, top the leaves with grass clippings, food waste, cottonseed meal, or another nitrogen-rich item. Build the pile until it is three feet wide by three feet tall (alternating between leaves and a nitrogen product). Turn and moisture-monitor your compost until it’s ready. You will want to turn once a month and only turn in winter if it’s in an insulated spot. When it is finished it will be dry and crumbly in texture, dark in color, and have an earthy smell. This process can take a couple of months to a year.
Blow The Leaves Into a Natural Area
Another solution for leaf disposal is to blow or dump the leaves in your own woods or fields near your home. They will naturally decompose.
Bag The Leaves
Bagging leaves will keep them protected from natural elements while you await pickup. You will need to find out what kind of bags your city or town allows as well as the days bagged leaves are picked up.
Vacuum The Leaves
If you are interested in this disposal option, you will need to find out if your area offers this service. Some towns send leaf vacuum trucks around a few times each season to suck up leaves. Before the leaves can be vacuumed, you will need to pile leaves at the curb and avoid covering storm drains, blocking fire hydrants, or having any objects such as parked cars near the leaves.
Shop our store to find a wide variety of fall lawncare accessories. These will maximize your leaf cleanup tools' performance and get your lawn looking great in no time.
