Easy Ways to Get Rid of Leaves

Most parts of Texas are not known for colorful autumns. We still have to deal with fallen leaves, of course. It’s just that our leaves mostly only come in a few shades of brown. You can leave your leaves where they fall, and over time they will form their own compost. That doesn’t make for a very appealing yard, though, so let’s talk about other options.

What can homeowners do to get rid of leaves that’s relatively easy? Much of what you can do depends on where you live, but we can offer some general tips and tricks.

Raking

Let’s start with the basics. Even if you have the latest in cutting-edge leaf removal technology, you are going to need a rake for the most stubborn, determined, and damp leaves. Not all rakes are created equal, so you want to find the right one for you:

• The wider the rake, the more leaves it can move. Look for a rake with a 30” spread.
• “No clog” rakes are designed to avoid skewering leaves, which makes for a much tidier raking process.

If you just absolutely hate raking, you might look into a lawn sweeper. These are available as a freestanding device or a lawnmower attachment. As the name suggests, they sweep fallen leaves into a large bag.

Leaf Blowing and Vacuuming

Why rake or sweep leaves when you can blow them elsewhere or vacuum them into a bag? You can find corded and cordless leaf blowers, as well as ones that run on gasoline.

It is probably true, as a very general rule, that gas-powered leaf blowers offer more power than electric ones. They can blow your leaves farther, but they also tend to be heavier and make more noise. Plus, electric leaf blowers have come a long way. Some of them can hold their own against their gas-powered cousins.

Some leaf blowers allow you to reverse the motor so it functions like a vacuum cleaner for your yard. You’ll have to carry a bag that gets progressively heavier, but at least you won’t have to deal with a steadily growing leaf pile.

The most interesting leaf-related appliances offer three functions: blowing, vacuuming, and mulching. The mulching function lets you repurpose your leaves, instead of just throwing them out.

Mowing/Mulching Leaves

Mulching your leaves can offer several possible benefits:

• By cutting the leaves into smaller pieces, it reduces the overall volume of a leaf pile, making disposal easier.
• Mulched leaves are already on their way to breaking down into compost.

As we mentioned above, some leaf vacuums include a mulching feature. You don’t necessarily need a separate device to mulch leaves, though. You can also use a lawnmower. Just run the mower over the leaf pile, and you’ve got near-instant mulch.

Options for Bagging

Assuming you do not plan on composting your leaves, you will want to get rid of them as efficiently as possible. If your city has specific procedures for yard waste, you should follow them. Otherwise, you have many options:

• Lawn and leaf bags: These 30-gallon bags are reasonably easy on the environment, but they can be difficult to fill.
• Bagster bags: Described as a “dumpster in a bag,” these can hold massive amounts of leaves. You might have to haul it off yourself, though, since your city’s waste department probably won‘t take it.
• Tarps: Instead of buying special-purpose waste bags for your leaves, you could try raking or blowing them onto a tarp. You can then drag the tarp to wherever you’re taking the leaves, and at the end of the day, you can reuse the tarp.

Ready to explore home ownership?

Getting rid of leaves can be a nuisance, but it’s all worth it when you invest in yourself by buying a home! The Wood Group of Fairway is here to answer all of your questions, no matter how small. Get started on your free pre-approval with an easy questionnaire!