Leaves are a symbol of fall – there is a reason Frank Sinatra’s song “Autumn Leaves” is a classic. At this time of year, people like to go see fall foliage, decorate with leaf-colored items around the house, and children play in large piles of leaves.
But as fun as romping in the leaves or looking at the fall leaves on trees can be, picking up leaves in your yard is not quite as exciting. It is, however, an integral part of good lawn care and maintenance. So, what do you need to know about picking up fall leaves and the effect it can have on your lawn? Here are a few tips for the best way to get rid of leaves:
Get the leaves off your lawn on a regular basis
There are several reasons why removing the leaves from your lawn is so important to its success and why it should be done at least once a week. The first is that it is healthier for your lawn to do so. Leaves lying on your lawn will block out sunlight, and potentially hurt the life of your lawn. Shredded leaves left behind from mulching are a great way to allow sunlight access to the grass below. The second is that the more you procrastinate on getting rid of the leaves, the longer it will take, and the bigger job it will be. So make it your goal to eradicate the leaves once a week.
In fact, when it comes to removing the leaves from your yard, the expert professionals at Lawn Doctor suggest:
“When leaves start falling, blow or rake the yard clean once per week at minimum. Making sure your yard is free of leaves not only improves appearance but influences the health of your yard. Leaves block out sunlight, which your lawn needs in the fall as it stores up food for winter dormancy.”
No matter the reason, it is clear that keeping leaves off of your home’s lawn is an essential part of proper lawn care and maintenance.
Best Way To Get Rid of Leaves
Raking
Hand-raking leaves is the old-fashioned way of removing leaves. Raking is affordable and easy to do yourself. It doesn’t require any special equipment, just an affordable quality rake and your time. However, doing it properly is still important.
Make Leaves Disposal a Family Event!
You can also make it a family event. You may remember jumping on a pile of leaves on your lawn when you were a kid. If you have, why not continue the memories by making leaf removal fun? Challenge your kids to see who can rake the most leaves, and then put them in a pile before you dispose of them. By doing so, you can do more than just get rid of the leaves. You can make memories for your children.
Mulching
Mulching stands out as a popular choice and is one of the best ways to get rid of leaves in your yard. Mulching is very simple: run over the fallen leaves with a lawnmower to shred them, mixing them in with the natural lawn. Not only will the shredded leaf bits blend in with the grass to become almost seamless, but raking for hours isn’t required. It’s a win-win.
What sets mulching apart from the other leaf removal methods are the added benefits to not only your lawn but the environment. The broken-down leaf bits provide plant-usable organic matter to the yard, creating the best results come spring. In addition to the extended nutrients, mulching reduces waste.
Leaf Blowing
A leaf blower, or some other gas or an electric device to pick up leaves, is arguably the quickest and one of the best ways to get rid of leaves. If you have the leaves blown off your yard, be considerate. Please use the leaf blower – or have a professional use the leaf blower – only in the afternoon or very late morning. You do not want to annoy your neighbors by waking them up on Saturday morning to the dulcet tones of a leaf blower. Leaf blowers are good when you want it done fast but make it more difficult to pick up debris and even some of the leaves as they get blown around freely. While this is arguably the fastest way to remove leaves, it may also leave a few scattered about your yard.
The Bottom Line
Leaf removal is a necessary part of autumn yard maintenance that also provides lasting family memories. Once you’ve researched and chosen the best way to get rid of leaves, ensure you have the proper equipment to get the job done. Wear proper gloves, and eye protection, and be careful not to throw out your back no matter the method. Preparing your yard for winter doesn’t have to be a chore. Learn more about Lawn Doctor services to prepare your lawn for the winter ahead.