In East Tennessee, as the calendar changed from October to November, we were treated to the spectacular spectrum of colors of fall foliage. Those beautiful leaves you enjoy seeing now will fall sooner rather than later, and you’ll have to deal with them. If you allow those leaves to remain through the winter, they’re going to accumulate moisture while depriving your grass of sunlight. By the start of spring, your lawn could be dead after being buried under the weight of those leaves for months. But we get it. Raking the yard may not be your favorite activity to do on the weekend. That’s why your Kingsport landscaping professionals at Promier Landscapes came up with this list of five “hacks” to make raking leaves easier this fall.
Tip 1: Wait until all leaves have fallen
Seeing leaves fall from your trees into your yard? Resist the urge to do some fast cleanup. Waiting until a significant amount of leaves have accumulated on the ground saves you from repeat raking. Yes, it will take a little longer to rake them up, but you’ll have more free time in the long run to do other things.
Tip 2: Keep your grass short
Most people think they can stow their mower once the fall season begins, but if you keep your lawn mowed to a short and healthy height, it won’t be nearly so much of a battle to rake your leaves. Why? Quite simply, you won’t have to worry about pulling them through taller grass. You may consider even running a mower over your yard, leaves included, before raking to keep your grass short and also make your leaves easier to collect.
Tip 3: Dress for success
No, we don’t mean you need to do yard work wearing your Sunday best, but you do want to wear clothing to protect yourself. You should wear long pants and long sleeves when you mow, and also don a pair of strong gloves to protect your hands from cuts, blisters, and the potential cold weather.
Tip 4: Gravity is your friend
Looking for a good workout? Try raking leaves uphill. Phew! Raking is a solid exercise on its own, so make the job easier for you and rake downhill. This makes the job shorter, allows you to save your strength, and exert less effort.
Tip 5: Know your limits
Overworking yourself during lawn care can be exhausting and dangerous. Too much exertion in cold water could trigger an injury, dehydration, or even a cardiac event. When you’re raking, it’s important to pay attention to your body and know when you’re pushing beyond your normal limits. Remember, any leaves that fall will be there another day. So, if you’re unable to complete the task in a single day, you can finish another time, so you don’t overwork yourself.
Fall lawn care in Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol
Professional landscaping isn’t just for mowing and trimming during the warm weather. We also can handle all your fall care—raking your leaves and, if you desire, mulching them and applying that as a way to nourish your lawn before winter. We also can aerate, seed, and fertilize your yard to prepare it for the next growing season. Schedule an appointment with one of your landscaping professionals today by calling (423) 872-2988.
Promier Landscapes is proud to serve homeowners and businesses in the areas of Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol in Tennessee.