How To Dispose of Fallen Leaves
Every spring you enjoy the trees leafing out only to be left with the autumn mess of cleaning them up. Deciduous trees put on quite a show, but when it's all over, you can end up knee deep in dead leaves. Luckily, there are some things you can do to make the cleanup easier, less stressful and more productive. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Plan your strategy. If you want to get the task taken care of in a day, make sure you have the supplies to do it. This could be fuel for the lawnmower, garden trash bags or helpers. Whatever your approach, give yourself plenty of time.
-
2
Wear comfortable shoes. Maneuvering around your property can be a hazard when you can't see where you're stepping. With leaves obscuring the terrain, it pays to be well shod. That way, if you stumble, you'll have a better chance of recovering your balance and avoiding injury.
-
-
3
Protect your back. One of the biggest complaints about leaf raking duty is lower back pain. Most people attack physical household chores without giving proper attention to one of their most precious commodities--their bodies. Start by stretching and warming up. You do it when you work out; you should do it when you rake, too. Take a brisk walk or use some of that expensive exercise equipment to get your blood pumping.
-
4
Invest in good equipment. Trying to get the leaves corralled into bags with a rake that has tines missing and sports a splintered handle is no way to get the job done. The best equipment choice is a rake that you can use easily. The top of the handle should reach your upper chest. Too long, and it will require you to overextend, making you tire more quickly.
-
5
Choose a day when the weather is temperate. Rushing because it's about to rain is a sure way to injure yourself.
-
6
Pay attention to your technique. Apply a method to your raking strokes that will allow you to reduce the wear and tear on your muscles and joints. After all, you only do this once a year. Try switching hands every 5 minutes to spread the work evenly across both sides of your body. Remember to bend from the knees. You're going to be doing a lot of bending, so make it count. As time goes by, you'll be glad you did.
-
7
Take breaks. A marathon session isn't a good idea. Straighten up and walk around every 15 minutes or so. Get a drink. Sit down if you're tired.
-
8
Try a more creative approach to raking. Break up the leaves with the lawnmower, bag them and use them as mulch in the flowerbeds. This will save on labor and the cost of expensive mulch.
-
1
Resources
- Photo Credit Courtesy of Morguefile
