Jumping into a giant pile of leaves in your yard? Fun! Raking up all the leaves to create that inviting pile? Not so fun.
We hear you. Getting rid of all those leaves that seem to fall without end every autumn is a tough job. But you might just be making it more challenging by raking wrong.
Before you toss your rake in frustration, remember that there are a host of important reasons to get this task done correctly. Piles of unraked leaves blanketing your lawn prevent your grass from getting nutrients, airflow, and enough water. And you risk infecting your grass with myriad fungal diseases that thrive on rotted leaves. And if that wasn’t enough to convince you, know this: Pests such as voles and mice like to set up homes in leaf piles.
So let’s get rid of those leaves, shall we? Here are the top raking mistakes and how to tackle the chore the right way.
Mistake No. 1: Putting off raking until tomorrow
Leaves fall all autumn long, so you might decide not to rake today when there will just be more leaves tomorrow.
“That’s a mistake because you’re just piling up the work,” says Codey Stout, head operations manager at TreeTriage.com. “The thicker the blanket of leaves you have to rake, the more tiring it will be for you. The leaves will also block the sunlight that your lawn needs to hibernate.”
Mistake No. 2: Using the wrong type of rake
Narrow metal rakes gather fewer leaves and cover smaller areas, so you’ll be working extra hard—for no reason.
“Choose a lightweight rake with wide spreads and angled tines,” says Stout. “You can cover larger areas and won’t pierce leaves, which would create clogs.”
And remember: Your raking posture is important.
“People often get sore after raking, usually because they are using a rake that’s not the right size for them,” says Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of LawnLove.com. “So choose the right rake length and weight for your body.”
This will prevent you from excessively bending your back at an odd angle.
Mistake No. 3: Not wearing the right gear
Once you have the perfect rake, you might be tempted to dive right into the job. But if you’re not used to this type of labor, raking can quickly cause painful blisters on your hands. Always wear gloves, which should fit snugly but not too tight.
Do you constantly sneeze when you rake? That’s probably because fallen leaves are dry and dusty, and can produce airborne particles when you rake them. So don a dust mask while you work.
Mistake No. 4: Creating random leaf piles
“People who rake all of the leaves into the center of their yard are doing a lot of unnecessary back-and-forth walking,” says Emilly Barbosa Fernandes of Small Space Gardener.
Instead, rake your leaves into rows on top of tarps placed in different sections of your lawn. Then gather the tarps and take the leaves to where you want to dispose of them. This way you won’t have to continually bend over to pick up piles and piles of leaves to put into a wheelbarrow.
7 Ways You’re Raking Your Yard Wrong (and How To Do It Right) appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.