With fall now in full swing, you may be wondering the best ways to get started with removing leaves from your lawn. Many of us enjoy the experiences that come with fall, such as the cooler outdoor temperatures, and the vibrant changing of colors that we see from the foliage surrounding us. While it is certainly visually appealing, the leaves will eventually begin to fall from their trees and scatter themselves across our lawns. Even if you don’t have many trees in your lawn, leaves might still find a way to gather in your lawn anyways due to high winds carrying them over.
Falling leaves can create a layer over your lawn, preventing sunlight from reaching the grass, causing it to become frail and weak. In addition to making your yard look unkempt, ignoring those fall leaves can also lead to lawn diseases as well. Fortunately, there are some measures that can be taken to properly and effectively remove leaves from your lawn. Continue reading to learn more about our tips when it comes to tackling fall leaf removal.
Choosing the Right Tools
There are a few different options you can take when physically removing the leaves from your lawn. Depending on the size of your property, or the amount of leaves that you have to deal with, certain tools will be more useful than others when it comes time for removal. There is a good chance that you already have the tools that you need for this operation sitting in your garage. If not, then you shouldn’t have much trouble finding them at your local hardware or home improvement store.
Leaf Rake - Using a rake is a reliable and commonly chosen method for gathering and removing leaves and twigs. While it's a cheap and sensible option, it can also be the most time consuming and physically demanding way to remove leaves. We suggest using a rake for smaller lawns and for people who are in good physical health.
Leaf Blower - Leaf blowers can be one of the most versatile and efficient tools when it comes to leaf removal and general yard cleanup. They are relatively easy to use and can come in handy for other lawn maintenance tasks as well. The downside to using a leaf blower is that they are noisy, and may require gasoline or a nearby electrical outlet in order for them to operate.
Mulching Lawn Mower - Mowing over leaves can actually create an organic mulch for your grass that provides natural fertilization during the fall and winter months. Ideally, the leaves should be cut down to dime-sized pieces in order for them to create an effective mulch. If your mower has mulching capabilities, this could mean that you don’t necessarily have to “remove” the leaves at all.
Proper Disposal
No matter what method you choose for your fall leaf removal, you are likely going to have a rather large pile of leaves and other foliage that you will need to dispose of. Composting your leaves can be one of the best and easiest ways to get rid of them for good. If you keep your own compost pile, you can simply just add them into the heap. If not, there is likely a low cost or even free local composting site that you can take them to. Do not burn, or throw your leaves into your garbage can. This can be illegal in some areas, and could lead to potential hazards to those around you.
Fall leaf removal can be quite dirty work. Make sure you take the proper precautions and wear the appropriate clothing and equipment. This could include things like gloves or protective eyewear. By properly removing leaves from your lawn this fall, you can promote better health for your grass as it lies dormant during winter. Come next spring, you will hopefully be greeted with a healthy and good looking lawn.
Featured Image: “Ayla’s Rake” by Don LaVange, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0