Best Ways to Get Rid of Leaves without Breaking a Sweat

As homeowners, the needed but undesirable chore of raking leaves can leave us with sore backs and blisters.  The once admirable colorful leaves now create piles of brown muck that the child in most of us no longer desires to jump through. Whether you choose to rake, blow, burn, mulch, or hope the wind carries them away, leaves cannot be ignored.  This is especially true you live in an area that produces enough leaves to completely cover your yard. If leaves are left to build up they create a wet mat which can block underlying moisture on the ground and can increase potential for bugs and diseases.   Leaves left to build up over grass may not have enough time to decompose over winter and will likely still cover your grass when spring returns, inhibiting new grass growth.   Before you take out the rake, consider these options so you don’t have to break a sweat:

Blower/Vac – Gas vs. Electrical

Gas blowers tend to be bulky, they’re loud, they produce fumes, and if you’re not a fan of trying to yank a starter cord, invest in an electrical blower.  The upside? No electrical cords to hold you back and they pack a powerful punch through leaves.

Electrical blowers are lighter to manage and are much quieter than gas blowers.  You can blow leaves for hours without having to sniff gas fumes, and an easy on-off switch makes it easy to start and stop your leaf conquering project.  The downside? Electrical cords can limit your reach.  Or just buy a longer cord or two.

Whichever your preference, invest in a blower/vac. This will allow you to ‘vacuum’ up your leaves and dispose of your new ‘mulch’ where it can be usefully composted – like over a garden or plant bed  or dusted back over your grass.

Mower

The same mower that cuts your grass can mulch your leaves.  Mulching the leaves back into your grass will help fertilize your soil.  If you have a push or walking mower, just cut your grass as you normally would but raise the blade to cut on its tallest setting.

If you’re fortunate enough to have a riding mower, adding a mulch kit to your mower is your best option.  You can collect your leaves and lay your mulch where needed.  If a mulch kit is not an option, cutting your leaves the same way you cut the grass will help with the leaf breakdown process and contribute to fertilizing your soil.

The demanding chore of dealing with leaves doesn’t have to be a burden.  Forego raking, burning, and high emissions by choosing options that help your soil and save your back. 

Dan Firks specializes in residential real estate for Chicago’s western suburbs.  As a Naperville resident and Realtor, he has been named a "5-Star Real Estate Agent" by Chicago Magazine, Zillow, and is the #1 Real Estate Broker at Re/Max of Naperville. Have a question about real estate? Contact Dan at 630.637.9009 or dan@danfirks.com.  To view homes, go to www.NapervilleIllinoisHomes.com.