How to Rake Leaves

The leaves look beautiful falling to the ground. Let the kids romp around in them awhile. When they’re diving into the thick blanket of leaves, bring out a couple of ergonomical rakes. It’s fun, you tell your kids, to pick up those big, wet leaves so that the grass can get some rays from the sun. Look on the bright side, raking is great exercise!

Before you start raking, decide first where you are going to put the leaves. Is it going in a bag on the curb; is it going to be used in the garden as mulch; or is it going in a backyard compost pile?

Decide a head of time how much time you have to rake. You've got kids who think leaves are fun. Get a large plastic sheet about six feet square or a large burlap sheet or a large sturdy fabric. Move with the rake walking backwards. Use your whole body, not just your back. Rake all the leaves into the large sheet, and never into the gutter of the street. When it is full, tie the diagonal ends together.

You can also go over the leaves with a power mower that has a mulching feature. You’ll notice that the leaves get smaller and smaller until they almost disappear into the grass. For best results, use the power mower before the leaves get too thick, and the leaves are still dry. After a few years of using dead leaves as compost, you’ll notice that your lawn is thicker and greener.