Fall is around the corner and we all know that leaves will be all over the yard. This is when trees and shrubs prepare for the cold season ahead. While it is the best time to enjoy football, there is one thing that keep bothering us – how to pick up leaves. In this guide, we will show you the easiest way to do this with your best leaf removal equipment.
Too much leaves in a yard can look unsightly, it is not enjoyable to unwind on your patio with leaves scattered everywhere. Further, large amount of leaves can harbor pests and bugs like grass spiders and mosquitoes. Lawn grasses don’t do well when covered with leaves and that greenery will start turning yellow.
Best leaf removal equipment
Depending on your budget the following are ideal leaf removal equipment you should arm yourself with during this fall.
- A rake – This is a gardening tool consisting of a pole handle with tines on a crossbar at the end. A rake is mainly used for collecting trash in nursery bed or picking up leaves in a yard.
- Leaf blower –This is a gardening tool that pushes strong air out of a nozzle to push debris including leaves. You can decide to get a cordless leaf blower or a corded one.
- Lawn mower – Any type of lawn mower can chop leaves into pieces. The chopped leaves can them be bagged or be left to decompose on the lawn if they are just few.
- Broom – A simple but effective tool for sweeping debris like leaves on hard surfaces. It consist of a long handle attached to bristles or twigs. This is a must have too if you have patios and driveways.
How to Pick-up Leaves
There are various ways of dealing with fall leaves
Blow them in a pile and bag
This is the most universal method of clearing leaves from outdoor spaces like patios, driveways and lawns. Blowing of leaves is effortlessly done using a leaf blower. There are several types of leaf blowers on the market. We recommend you use a cordless leaf blower which gives you advantage of using anywhere.
Cordless leaf blowers are usually battery operated and highly mobile. You only need to recharge the battery when ran out of power. Corded or electric leaf blower is tethered by a cord to an electric outlet. This model is powerful but can limit you to particular areas unless you have a power extension cord.
Leaf blowing is not just pointing your tool on the scattered leaves, at least you need to have a strategy. Attack leaves in a semicircular matter since doing it in a straight line will lead to leaves rolling back. In this style you are able to bring a heap of leaves together for bagging.
Also, do not try to blow leaves into a bigger pile, it is easier if you make several piles. In a windy day, blow the leaves across the wind or with wind. Going against it will simply push them back to where you have cleaned. But personally I like blowing leaves when the weather is calm so that I can have full control.
Some types of leaf blowers can be converted into leaf vacuums. They can suck up the pile and direct it into a bag. If you don’t have such a tool, don’t worry. What is remaining is only bagging the leaves and you can do it without using a suction tool. Place them in a bag by hands or use of a leaf scoop and dump them into your compost pit.
Rake and bag them
A leaf rake is a very important tool in gardening and you can confirm this when fall comes. If you have one, then you are lucky. Grab that handle in a cool morning or evening and start raking leaves into piles for collection.
It is important you know that raking will take a good part of your morning or evening especially if you are dealing with a large field. Also don’t forget those gloves, otherwise you will be nursing blisters in your palms right after the task.
A rake can also help during collection of leaves after blowing them together. It will take less time to bag the leaves with a rake as compared to using your hands.
Mulch leaves into the grass
There is no need of collecting few scattered leaves on your lawn. Don’t waste time if you have a lawn mower. Insert a mulch plug into your lawn mower and close that side port for discharging grass clippings. Push the mower over the lawn as the blade chops the leaves into tiny pieces and leave them to decompose.
While this is the easiest way of dealing with leaves on a lawn, it is not ideal for a large cover of leaves on the grass. Chopping them on the grass will result into more messy appearance and damaging to the lawn grass. In large amount, mulched leaves take time to decompose.
Mow and bag the leaves
This is similar to mulching leaves but this time you are not using a mulching plug and you have attached a bag in your mower. Set the blade high and run the mower over the leaves. All the chopped leaves and few grass clippings will be directed into the bag. When the bag is full, simply damp the leaves into a compost pile.
I love this method since it work regardless of the amount of leaves on your grass. It is effortless as compared to leaf raking and blowing. All you need is a working lawn mower and your lawn will be cleared in a matter of minutes. However, the method is only limited to lawns.
Sweep with a broom
This works effectively when picking up leaves on hard surfaces such as patios, decks or driveways. If you don’t have a leaf vacuum, get a long bristled broom and sweep those leaves into one pile before you bag them. Remember to wear your dust mask as sweeping will be blowing dust and other particles into the air.
Hire professionals
Professional yard cleaners can do the job on your behalf as long as you are ready to spend some coins. They will come with the right leaf removal equipment and within no time your yard will be sparkling clean.
Final Though
As long you have trees or shrubs in your compound or in your neighborhood, picking up leaves will always be part of your domestic chores. It is best to prepare in advance with your best leaf removal equipment, be it a rake, leaf blower or a mower.