easiest way to remove leaves from yard

The Easiest Way to Remove Leaves from Your Yard

As fall approaches, one of the inevitable chores is removing all the leaves that fall from the trees in your yard. Raking or blowing leaves can be a tedious and time consuming task. With the right tools and techniques though, you can make leaf clean up a breeze. In this article, I’ll share the easiest methods for clearing leaves from your lawn and garden beds.

Why Leaf Removal Is Important

Before jumping into removal methods, let’s look at why getting rid of leaves matters. When leaves pile up on your lawn, they block sunlight from reaching the grass blades. This leads to bare patches and increased susceptibility to diseases. Thick leaf layers also provide the ideal breeding ground for slugs, snails, and other lawn pests.

In flower and vegetable gardens, fallen leaves can smother plants if left over winter. Leaf litter left in garden beds harbors fungal diseases that can damage or kill plants.

For safety reasons leaves should also be cleared from walkways, patios, and driveways. Slippery leaves are a tripping hazard for kids and adults. And on grass dense piles of leaves prevent air circulation, which can lead to dead patches.

So while pretty, keeping a leaf-free yard is crucial for aesthetics, plant health, safety, and proper lawn airflow.

When to Remove Leaves

Timing is everything when it comes to easy leaf clean up. For optimal results, start removing leaves as soon as they start to fall. Dry, fresh leaves are much easier to manage than wet, matted down leaves.

It’s best tackle leaf removal in several smaller sessions rather than one massive project. Ideally, you want to get the yard cleared before leaves have a chance to accumulate deeply.

If you prefer to do it all at once, schedule your leaf clearing for right after peak leaf drop in your area. This is typically in late fall after the last leaves have fallen.

Leaf Raking – The Classic Method

The old fashioned way to remove leaves is raking them up with a leaf rake. While manual labor, raking is thorough and cheap since most people already own a metal rake.

Supplies Needed:

• Leaf rake
• Trash bags or yard waste bags
• Tarp (optional)

Steps:

1. Use a fan-shaped steel leaf rake to collect leaves into piles or rows. Take care not to also rake up dirt and debris.

2. Gather piles into trash bags for disposal. For easy loading, place bags near piles before raking.

3. Alternatively, rake leaves onto a tarp. When full, lift tarp corners to move leaves and empty onto a new tarp.

Pro Tip: Rake methodically in sections starting from the outer yard edges and moving inward. Rake slowly backward taking small steps to avoid missing spots. Make multiple passes over areas.

Leaf Blowing – A Time Saver

Leaf blowers make quick work of moving leaves using a powerful blast of air. Electric or gas-powered models rapidly clear lawn and garden beds.

Supplies Needed:

• Gas or electric leaf blower
• Extension cord for electric blowers

Steps:

1. Stand at the edge of your yard and turn leaf blower to full power.

2. Move systematically across your property, blowing all leaves into a centralized pile.

3. Once piled up, use a hard-tip attachment to move piles into trash bags for disposal.

Pro Tip: Use a back-and-forth sweeping motion rather than randomly blowing. Wear safety goggles and ear protection.

Mulching – The Natural Approach

You can shred leaves into tiny pieces by mowing over them with a mulching lawn mower. The leaf mulch left behind naturally fertilizes the grass over time.

Supplies Needed:

• Mulching lawn mower

Steps:

1. Set mower deck to lowest cutting height and engage mulching mode. Insert mulching plug if needed.

2. Mow over leaf covered areas using overlapping passes to shred leaves into fine pieces.

3. Make a second perpendicular pass over areas to further cut and incorporate leaf bits.

Pro Tip: For best results, only mulch dry leaves. Keep mower blades sharp.

Leaf Vacuuming – For Heavy Leaf Fall

Leaf vacuums suck up leaves and collect them in an attached bag for easy disposal. It’s ideal for properties with lots of trees.

Supplies Needed:

• Gas or electric leaf vacuum/mulcher

Steps:

1. Use the vacuum tube to suck up leaf piles or rows.

2. Empty the collection bag as needed until all leaves have been removed.

Pro Tip: For small yards, handheld leaf vacuums easily tackle leaves on grass, walkways and beds.

Call In The Pros

If tackling leaf clean up yourself seems unappealing, consider hiring professional landscapers. Services include:

• Lawn mowing with mulching mode to shred leaves
• Power leaf vacuuming for total removal
• Debris cleanup and haul-away
• Options like leaf bagging, composting, etc.

Pro Tip: Pros equipped with commercial grade equipment make fast work of large yard leaf removal.

Key Tips for Easy Leaf Removal

To smooth the way when prepping your yard for winter, keep these tips in mind:

• Start early before heavy leaf drop occurs
• Work systematically section-by-section
• Remove promptly after rain or snow
• Use proper bending and lifting techniques
• Wear gloves and eye protection
• Place leaf piles or bags near road for collection
• Listen to your body and take breaks

Make a Game Plan

Now that you know the various options for clearing fallen leaves, make an action plan suited to your specific needs. Here are some final tips:

• Survey your yard’s size, tree cover, and terrain
• Select removal methods appropriate for your landscape
• Gather necessary tools and supplies
• Schedule weekly fall leaf clean up
• Properly dispose of leaves – compost, mulch or bag for municipal pick-up

With the right tools, timing, and techniques, leaf removal doesn’t need to be the dreaded chore it’s made out to be. Stay on top of the fall leaf drop, and you’ll keep your lawn and gardens looking neat and tidy all season long!