As the days get shorter and colder, autumn provides bountiful free, natural materials that invite us to experiment. The beautiful autumn leaves are a stunning sight while they are on trees and scattered all over the lawn. Some people will take the kids to enjoy some classic fall activities with these leaves before they are cleared away, such as making leaf crafts & autumn decorations and jumping in the leave piles. However, it’s not happy for everyone. Dealing with these fallen leaves has been a chore before the last leaf falls. In this article, we’ve compiled some practical guidelines to help you deal with fallen leaves easier and more enjoyable.
Use a Rake
You must have the right tools for the job. Rakes are traditional tools that everyone can use. They are available in different widths and lengths. If you want to save your back in this job, it’s important to choose a rake length according to your height. A wide rake head is suitable for grass and flat yard ground. While a narrow rake head can fit tight space around the shrubs. Some have a telescopic handle and flexible rake head which allow you to use them in any space. Are you tired of raking? You can opt for a leaf blower or vacuum.
Use a Leaf Blower
A leaf blower is a valuable and time-saving tool for homeowners in autumn. It can be used to clean places like your shed or patio. There are three main power sources for a handheld leaf blower: corded, cordless battery-operated, and gas-powered.
The leaf blower type you need depends on how many leaves you need to blow and how fast you want to complete the task. Most leaf blowers can vacuum, mulch, and blow dirt, leaves, and debris from your patio, driveway, porch, or backyard.
Corded and cordless battery-operated leaf blowers tend to be more lightweight and quieter in working than gas-powered ones. But their battery life, power, and cord length are more suitable for small to medium-sized tasks. If your yard is not very large and there is an electrical outlet, you can choose corded leaf blowers.
Cordless electric leaf blowers can continuously work in most yards, driveways, and patios for around 40 minutes. The battery needs to be recharged. If you want to complete jobs longer time than that, it’s best to have a few backup batteries.
Gas-powered leaf blowers are powerful enough to handle a large number of leaves, dirt, and other debris. They can work continuously as long as you add oil and fuel mixture. However, these leaf blowers are heavier than electrical models due to the extra weight of the gas engine and tank. They are noisy and require frequent engine maintenance. You’d better make sure you need to get approval from your community to use this.
Even though some leaf blowers perform well in the noise test, it’s best not to use your leaf blower in the morning or at night, otherwise, your neighbors are likely to be disturbed.
If you are trying to vacuum and bag the leaves, make sure you have cleared your yard. Because rocks, mulch, and twigs in the yard can cause damage to the impeller.
Use a Mower to Shred Leaves
If you have a large yard, patio, and many trees. A mower can help you bag the leaves and shred the leaves easily. You can throw the leaves into the composter, therefore, fallen leaves become the materials for healthy planting. Or, if you make them into mulch on your flower beds, you will own beautiful garden flowers in the next year.
When shredding dry leaves or emptying the leaf bags, it’s best to wear a dust mask as it can produce a lot of dust.
Clear Leaves on the Roof
Leaf and moss can trap water, causing your roof to become prematurely deteriorated. A leaf blower can be used to remove leaves from low-pitched roofs. You can also use an extension pole to pull the leaves off steeper roofs. Or, you could use a roof rake. It is a good idea to trim any branches that touch or are near the shingles.
Use a chemical treatment to kill mold and then use a soft brush to sweep it away. The bleach solution can kill mold, but it could also harm the plants below. Be careful not to use too much bleach to kill the mold. There are specific roof cleaners that contain fungicides. Zinc strips can be installed at the roof’s peak to help prevent mold growth.
Clean Wet Leaves around Gutter Spouts
This is a fall chore you should not overlook: clean out all the wet leaves from your gutter spouts to prevent them from clogging your gutters. The plumber’s snake can be used to pull clumps from clogged downspouts.
Use Effective Gutter Guards
Installing solid gutter guards is a good option if you struggle to keep small leaves and other debris out of your gutters. Solid gutter guards are a good choice. They cover the entire gutter, with the exception of a narrow crack that allows water to pass through. The guards’ lip relies on surface tension to draw water into the gutter. However, the solid cover deflects leaves and other debris. Guards are compatible with all types of gutters, except for those made from plastic “C” shapes. The guards are designed to fit over gutters rather than inside them, so they will cover most standard-sized gutters.
The guards are usually attached to the gutter using brackets. The upper edge is then slid under lower shingles. Screened gutter protectors, which can be purchased at most home centers and are less expensive, won’t work as well. While they will keep out most leaves you can expect to see smaller debris like pine needles and seeds. It is also more difficult to clean gutters with screens because you must move them away to reach the debris. In some cases, however, they might be all that is needed.
Keep Your Stone Mulch Clean
While you may have to pull some weeds from time to time, the main problem is the accumulation of leaves and other debris that can be found in trees and shrubs. It is best to either sweep it away or scoop it up with a leaf vacuum. It is almost impossible to clean stones placed under trees. Organic mulch is better because tree debris will blend in.
Burn Leaves with Permit and Safety
Burning leaves can be the fastest and most effective way to clean your fall debris. However, leaf-burning can be more dangerous than bagging them for reuse.
There are two types of leaf burning: closed burning and open burning. Closed burning is when you burn leaves and small twigs in your fireplace or wood pellet stoves.
Open burning refers to burn piles and bonfires in your garden or some area near your home. Open burning is not permitted in many areas, especially those that have a higher population density or are at more risk from wildfires.
A permit may be required if you intend to burn leaves near your home. The local municipality can provide details about its requirements and point you to the appropriate permitting department. This step should not be skipped. To ensure safety and emergency response, permit help local authorities track burns occurring within their jurisdictions. It can also be costly to get caught without one.
You should ensure your burn pile is placed in a safe area, which is at least 50 feet away from any structure and with no wind. Because dry leaves burn quickly and the wind can blow away the burning leaves everywhere to cause a fire.
Turn Fall Leaves into Lawn Fertilizer
A mulching mower is a great option if you don’t like raking leaves. A mulching mower cuts leaves into small flakes which settle in the grass and become natural fertilizer. Some areas may need to be re-cut twice or three times in order to remove all the leaves. It’s quick, easy, and makes your grass happy. There’s no need to rake!
