Autumn Clean-up

Fall is here, and for many of us that means time to start raking leaves. But it doesn’t have to be such a daunting task. Follow these helpful tips and make October lawn clean-up easier on yourself and your family.

Don’t rake too early

While there’s still more leaves in the trees than on your lawn, why not just mow? You have the option to either bag or mulch, depending if you have a mulching mower. If the leaves are dry, blowers can be a helpful tool. A good rule of thumb
is to not mow leaves after your grass has stopped growing for the season. That’s when you’ll need to pick up the rake.

Decide which leaves need removing

Leaving some in the right places can be beneficial for your lawn. Trees and shrubs can benefit from the natural compost left by leaves, which in turn can result in needing less mulch in the spring. The majority of leaves in your lawn will need to be removed for healthy grass growth in the following season.

Consider compost

You could bag all your leaves and take them to the curb, or you could start a natural compost pile. Ideally, you’d create compost in an area of your yard where you don’t expect grass growth. Make piles of the leaves and leave a small layer of dirt between every foot or so. You’ll want to turn the compost pile every month to make sure it stays moist.

Make it easy on yourself

Raking leaves in the yard can be grueling on your back, especially if you’ve experienced back problems in the past. Look to pick up special rakes that are designed to eliminate twisting and bending. Try to keep your feet moving instead of standing in one place. Think about using a wheelbarrow for hauling bags of leaves. And as most of us do, enlist the family to help out.