Raking Leaves: How to Get it Done Faster and Quicker

Well it's finally the Fall season. That time of the year where it starts to cool down during the day, leaves on the trees turn beautiful shades of red and yellow. And then they all fall off, and it's time to rake them up - one of the most menial chores for both children and adults alike. But there are ways you can make this task go by much quicker, and things you can do to make it much less stressful.

The first thing you want to do is look at the rakes you are using. If you are still using those old, straight-wooden-handled metal rakes, get rid of it! Nearly every lawn and garden center in any store now carries ergonomically design rakes that reduce the strain on your back. In addition, the rake heads themselves are made of plastic.

Not only is this plastic just as durable as their metal counterparts, you won't have to worry about scratching the sides of the house when raking up close to your home. Most of these newer, ergonomically designed rakes also have wider and longer rake heads. This means less reaching with your arms and back, and you also get more area coverage with each rake.

Another good device to use when raking the lawn is an ordinary tarp. Any old blue or green one you may have laying around is fine - there is no need to go and buy something fancy. But there are many advantages to using a tarp when raking.

For one, raking the leaves onto the tarp makes them much easier to pick up. If you plan on loading the leaves into a trailer for dumping at a local leaf collection site, a tarp comes in quite handy, too. After raking the leaves onto the tarp, you can simply carry the tarp over to your trailer and dump the leaves in. You may need the assistance of a couple friends for this one. Believe it or not, those leaves can get quite heavy!

If your friends are unwilling to help with the tedious task of lawn maintenance, you can always try to recruit some of the local kids in the neighborhood. For just a couple of dollars and possibly lunch, you can get a lot of leaves picked up in no time. If you have a leaf blower, this is added incentive - kids love playing with leaf blowers, even if it means they are getting yard work done at the same time.

Whatever you do, make sure to never burn your leaves. Not only is it bad for the environment, but it is also a potential fire hazard (dry leaf fires can spread quite quickly), and in many states and cities it is downright illegal. Always make sure to bring your leaves to a certified leaf dump site, or if your local garbage service picks them up, set your full paper bags neatly on the curb for pickup.