How to Clean up Leaves Without a Rake or Bagging Mower

Leaf clean up in fall can be a real pain in the back. Everyone knows how hard it is to rake up leaves and what that does to your body. Bagging mowers are much better but make a mess out of the lawn once the soil gets saturated from the rain. He's a trick I discovered last year which has worked out really well...whether the leaves are wet or dry!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2500-3500 psi power washer
• garden hose

1. Buy a pressure washer if you don't have one. They are cheaper than a bagging mower system and are far more versatile. If you already have one gas it up, check the oil, hook up the water hose and turn on the water before you start it or you will destroy the water pump. Bleed the water hose for a minute to get the air out of the line. Now you are ready.

2. Insert the o degree spray tip for maximum pressure. Position the pump where you want to start cleaning up leaves and start the engine. Use a flat and almost parallel angle of water jet spray to prevent blowing holes in your lawn. Sweep across the lawn from side to side, pushing the leaves wherever you want them to go.

3. The washer won't put anything harmful on the lawn. The lawn will get a drink of water if it hasn't rained and you will find this method of clean up is quieter than a mower, almost as fast and really cleans up the lawn nicely. Blow the leaves into a pile or blast them into the woods or over to the neighbors yard! You're going to like doing leaves this way.

Tips & Warnings

• use only cold water in your pressure water

[alltrails]

on 11/6/2009 Nice article on how to clean leaves without a rake or bagging mower. Good idea, the less work I have to do dealing with leaves, the better. Thanks for the tip!