How to Rake Leaves Faster

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Things You'll Need

  • Wide ergonomic rake

  • Leather gloves

  • Plastic tarp

  • Large trash bags

  • Lawn mower

Rake your leaves into a straight-line pile instead of several smaller piles.

Raking leaves is a dreaded annual task that homeowners need to tackle if they wish to maintain a green lawn. Heavy leaf coverage can kill your grass if left unattended. Raking your leaves when they are wet from rain will only make the job harder. Wet leaves are heavier to pick up and more difficult to rake than leaves that are dry and crunchy. With a little bit of improvising and the right tools, you can cut down the time it usually takes to rake your leaves.

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Step 1

Pick a cool and dry day late in the fall season. Make sure that all of the trees on your property have shed their leaves fully before tackling the task of raking. Call upon the help of another person to aid your raking process.

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Step 2

Rake the leaves with a wide ergonomic rake, making a straight-line pile instead of several small piles. Fold a large tarp in half and place it lengthwise beside the straight-line pile of leaves. Rake the leaves on to the tarp and then roll the tarp up like a cigarette to create a tube that encapsulates the leaves.

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Step 3

Place and hold a trash bag over one end of the rolled-up tarp. Have your helper lift the other end of the tarp up to funnel the leaves into the trash bag. Make sure that you and your helper hold the tarp so that it won't unravel while dumping the leaves into the trash bags.

Step 4

Repeat steps 2 and 3 until all of your straight-line piles of leaves are picked up successfully. Instead of performing the tedious task of picking up the small amount of leaves left on the lawn after raking, consider cutting them up into small particles with your lawnmower.

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