Autumn is arguably the most enjoyable season of the year: temperatures begin to cool off, the leaves begin to turn, and families can spend more time outside in the cool, comfortable weather. With leaves turning and the weather cooling though, you can expect to see your lawn covered with fallen leaves in a matter of days.
Dealing with wet, soggy leaves in your yard can be a chore, but with the right tools and techniques, you can quickly and easily clear them away. Here are the most effective methods for getting rid of wet leaves from your lawn and gardens.
Use a Leaf Blower
A gas-powered leaf blower with high velocity air speed is the ideal tool for removing wet leaves. The powerful concentrated stream of air helps lift and separate the damp leaves so they can be blown into piles.
Aim the blower nozzle close to the ground and slowly move it back and forth to dislodge the wet leaves. Work in small sections, starting at one end of the area. For thick matted leaves, you may need to make several passes over the same spots to get them up.
Rake and Agitate the Leaves
For smaller yards, using a leaf rake along with agitation works well to remove wet leaves. Choose a sturdy rake with rigid, short tines that can penetrate the damp leaf layer.
Rake sections vigorously to break apart the leaves and allow air to circulate. You can also stomp on piles or stir them with a shovel to help loosen compaction. Let the disturbed piles sit for a bit before raking again to pick up any remaining leaves.
Mow Over Leaf Piles
Running a lawn mower over wet leaves will shred and chop them into smaller bits that dry out and decompose faster. This works best if the leaves are not sopping wet
Use a high mower setting and bag or mulch the leaves as you mow Make a few passes to get the leaves finely shredded. Then rake up any remaining leaf debris. Your lawn will emerge freshly groomed.
Use a Power Rake or Dethatcher
Power rakes, also called dethatchers, use stiff tines to dig down and rip into the wet leaf layer to dislodge them from the ground Adjust the tine depth so they can reach the soil surface
Make crisscrossing passes until the leaves are pulled up. Power rakes work well if leaves are not heavily matted. Rake or blow the leaves into piles afterward for removal. This also helps remove any leftover leaf debris from the lawn.
Try a Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum
For smaller yards or confined areas, a wet/dry shop vacuum is great for sucking up soggy leaves quickly. Use the blower function first if needed to loosen piled leaves before vacuuming.
Systematically work in sections, emptying the vacuum debris tank frequently so suction power doesn’t decrease. Models with a shredding function provide extra leaf volume reduction.
Utilize Tarps for Removal
For collecting and hauling away large volumes of wet leaves all at once, tarps offer an easy solution. Rake or blow leaves into piles on top of an open tarp. Once filled, carefully drag the tarp to your disposal spot.
Durable poly tarps are less likely to rip. Clean off any remaining stray leaves from the lawn using a blower. Avoid pushing massive piles of wet leaves right against foundations or structures.
Work During Optimal Weather
Ideally, tackle wet leaves on sunny dry days when they have had a chance to dry out somewhat. Avoid trying to remove sopping saturated leaves immediately after rains, as they will be heavy and stick together.
Schedule smaller segments over multiple days if needed. Letting the leaves partially air dry makes removal much easier. Follow these tips and you can efficiently clear out those stubborn wet leaves from your yard.
Other features to consider:
This is an important factor to consider when choosing a rake. These tine adjustments on a rake are used to control the flexibility of the tines for different raking conditions. For example, raking wet leaves requires more force from the tines. As a result, you would want to position your tines closer together to be more sturdy and less flexible.
Utilize Power Equipment
We recommend using a leaf blower to reduce the physical strain of fall cleanup. If you do not own a leaf blower, you’ve come to the right place. We have a large selection of blowers including gas blowers, electric blowers, and even state of the art battery powered blowers. Many of our local, independently owned Do it Best stores have a rental department, reducing the cost of a power equipment investment.
Got a brand new leaf blower or just now digging it out of the garage since last year? Make your job easier by following these steps:
- Wait until the leaves are dry before using a leaf blower. Wet leaves are hard to move unless you are using a high-powered blower.
- Blow leaves into smaller piles rather than blowing them across the yard.
- Use the wind to your advantage. Before you start moving the leaves, take a minute to determine wind direction and blow with the wind.
Removing the wet leaves from your lawn
FAQ
What do I do with wet leaves?
Put wet leaves in brute trashcan or similar 55 gallon plastic trash can. Run string trimmer in trash can until your desired consistency is achieved. Spread leaves with trashcan.
How to dispose of wet leaves?
Composting is one option for disposal. Leaves alone are difficult to decompose, but when mixed with a few grass clippings, composted manure or generous amounts of fertilizer, the leaves will be reduced to wonderful organic matter usable in the garden.
Is it OK to rake wet leaves?
Yes, you really do have to rake up those wet leaves on your lawn. Here’s why. The third week of November is your reminder that leaving wet maple leaves on your lawn will block out light and kill the grass. This is the week to gather and store all fallen leaves as the main ingredient for making leaf mold.
What to do with wet leaves in a rainy fall?
Wet leaves are a heavy, soggy mess and are more challenging to rake and mulch than dry leaves. So, if you’re wondering what to do with wet leaves in your yard during a rainy fall, continue reading below. The best tools to remove wet leaves are a powerful leaf blower or a leaf rake designed to handle wet leaves.
How do you stop bed-wetting?
Most children who wet the bed overcome the problem between 6 and 10 years of age, and almost all children eventually get over it, even without special treatment. Never punish, shame or blame your child for wet nights and remember to praise her for dry nights. Call your doctor promptly if your child starts wetting the bed after having been dry at night for some time, especially if he is wetting theed and also has fever, pain when urinating, or seems to be urinating or drinking more than usual. For children of any age who wet the bed, these steps may help: Encourage your child to use the bathroom regularly during the day. A few hours before bedtime, cut back on beverages as well as foods that melt into liquids (for example, Popsicles) Remind your child to go the bathroom before going to bed. Make it easy for your child to find the bathroom at night. Praise your child for dry nights. Other options include: Bedwetting alarms Behavioral therapy Short term use of medications
Can you get rid of leaves in your yard during a wet fall?
Getting rid of leaves collecting in your yard during a wet fall can be daunting. There won’t be any dry leaf piles to jump into, but you’ve got to get rid of the leaves to keep them from smothering your lawn in spring. Follow these tips and even during a rainy fall, you’ll have your yard cleared of wet leaves in no time.
What is the best way to get rid of leaves?
Here’s everything I learned. My favorite way to get rid of leaves is the most traditional method of all: raking. Despite the unavoidable time it took to complete, it was the cheapest and most therapeutic. 1.
Can You bag wet leaves?
You can bag wet leaves, but keep in mind that wet leaves packed into bags can become very heavy. Also, if you bag leaves while they’re wet, they won’t dry. Consider using a tarp to collect wet leaves. This way, you can tie the corners of the tarp to contain the leaves when you want to move them.
How do you remove wet leaves from a tarp?
Consider using a tarp to collect wet leaves. This way, you can tie the corners of the tarp to contain the leaves when you want to move them. If you use a tarp, it’s easy to remove leaves to reduce weight, or to untie the tarp during sunny weather to allow the wet leaves to dry.