This Dad’s Playbook to Leaf Raking The Yard Easier This Fall

Let’s be honest with one another: raking leaves sucks.

I’m all for yard work so don’t get me wrong. I’ll mow and string trimmer my yard during the hottest days of summer, or spend time tending to our garden, but there’s something daunting about leaf raking. The constant raking motion and the strain on your arms and back. The endless bagging. The endless battle of pulling leaves that get stuck in your rake. I hate it, and I know I’m not the only one.

We bought a new house a few years ago, and we have some bigger trees in our yard than our old place so raking the yard has become a bigger project during the fall than it once was for me. And my kids aren’t old enough to really help make a dent in it — so I needed to rethink how to rake my yard.

Stop Raking Harder & Rake Smarter

I’ve done my research and even talked with some neighbors that also have to deal with a big dump of leaves in their yard too, and I have what I believe is the perfect playbook of tactics and tools to help make raking leaves easier this fall. Not only will this help keep your back in check, but help make leaf raking faster and take care of your yard too.

Raking Leaves 101

The first thing I was taught by my dad was to never rake wet leaves. It’s always easier to rake dry leaves. Think of wet leaves like wet newspaper. It gets soggy, mushy, and heavier to move around. Dry leaves are lighter and easier to pick up and move.

If it’s recently rained, walk your yard and listen to the leaves you walk on. If they don’t crunch when you step on them it’s probably too wet and you’re in for a longer day of yard work than you really want.

Aside from knowing when to rake leaves, here are some other pieces of advice and tools I recommend considering to make raking leaves off your yard far easier.

Get The Right Rake For Your Yard

Investing in a good quality rake for raking leaves offers several benefits that can make the task more efficient, effective, and enjoyable. Here are some reasons why it’s worth considering:

• Durability and Longevity: A high-quality rake is often constructed using better materials and craftsmanship. This means it’s more likely to withstand the rigors of leaf raking over time, reducing the need for frequent replacement and ultimately saving you money in the long run.
• Ergonomics: A good rake is designed with user comfort in mind. It might have features like ergonomic handles or padded grips that reduce strain on your hands and wrists, making the task of raking leaves less physically taxing.
• Time Savings: A rake with a wider head and more tines can cover a larger area with each stroke, allowing you to finish the job more quickly. This can be especially important when you have a large yard with many trees shedding leaves, and you want to get back inside and watch football!
• Better Leaf Pile Management: Some high-quality rakes are designed to help you create neater, more manageable leaf piles. This can make it easier to collect and dispose of the leaves, whether you’re bagging them or using them for compost. (more on this later)

Leaf Rake Recommendation: Buyplus Telescoping Leaf Rake, $25 on Amazon

I recently picked up this new rake from Buyplus. The rake head is adjustable, ranging from 8 inches to 23 inches wide so I can rake a wide stroke in the yard by a more narrow stroke between bushes and flowers. The pole is adjustable too, ranging from 24 inches long to 63 inches. It’s super lightweight made out of aluminum and is zinc plated so it’s protected from rust.

Try Collecting Leaves in a Tarp

Using a tarp to collect leaves offers a range of practical benefits that streamline the process of yard maintenance. This method simplifies leaf collection by providing a large, flat surface onto which leaves can be easily raked or gathered. Rake the leaves on to the top of the tarp, then grab the corners of the tarp and pull to move them around. Once leaves are piled onto the tarp, they can be effortlessly transported to designated disposal areas (like your street curb, back wooded area, or compost bins, reducing the need for repeated trips and saving time.

Leaf Tarp Recommendation: Rocky Mountain Goods Drawstring Tarp, $26 on Amazon

What I love most about this tarp compared to any other ordinary tarp you can buy is the corner drawstrings. This allows you to blow or rake leaves onto the tarp and then cinch the tarp shut, basically turning the tarp into a bag! Then you can carry or drag the tarp to wherever you want to move the leaves. Plus Rocky Mountain Goods provides a lifetime warranty and will replace the tarp should you have any issues.

Elevate Your Leaf Bagging

Leaf bagging is a very common way cities ask residents to dispose of their fall leaves. Typically city department of public works or other similar divisions ask residents to put bags in paper bags and set them out like they would their trash cans for pick up. Yes, typical plastic garbage bags are frowned upon for environmental reasons. (If you need an idea for paper leaf bags, try these!)

But picking up leaves and dropping them into a bag isn’t as easy as it sounds. Often, leaves will drop and scattered out of your hands. But I have a few recommendations to help with leaf bagging:

Leaf Bagging Recommendation: Luster Leaf Lawn Chute, $25 on Amazon

Think of the book return chute at the library, but for paper bags and you’re depositing your leaves! This chute from Luster Leaf acts as a backstop sitting in a vertical position to help keep your paper lawn bag upright. The chute’s reinforcement of the bag keeps the bag from tipping over and helps stuff up to 20% more leaves per bag. And when you’re done it folds up for easy storage for next fall.

Reusable Leaf Bag Recommendation: Gardzen 2-Pack 132 Gallon Gardening Bag, $22 on Amazon

These reusable leaf bags are made of polypropylene fabric so they are tear resistant and firm enough to fully load up with leaves and other lawn material. There are handles attached to make picking up and dumping easier, and the bottom is has a double layer for added durability and support. Plus, Gardzen will throw in a free pair of gloves too!

Invest in a Leaf Sweeper

If you have a large backyard and a ton of trees to deal with, you may end up raking out there for days to collect multiple drops of leaves. One alternative is to buy a lawn sweeper. Think of a lawn sweeper as a clever hybrid between a push broom and a vacuum. The broom-like bristles sweep along your grass and collect up into a mesh bag. There are electric and gas powered lawn vacuums but they don’t tend to do the job. A lawn sweeper is more affordable and does just as good if not better than the powered ones.

Leaf Sweeper Recommendation: Gardena Lawn and Leaf Collector, $159 on Amazon

Gardena has the unique solution for collecting leaves and other lawn debris, raking and collecting foliage, grass clippings, and more effortlessly in this lawn collector. Save you back and push this in an upright position rather than bending over to pick up leaves. You can adjust the height of the brushes to optimize the collector to your lawn specifications. It can also fold up easily and take up less space when stored.

Use Grabbers to Pick Leaves Up

We’ve already established bending over to pick up leaves is a pain in the you know what, so what are other affordable options that can save your back while picking up leaves this fall? Oversized tongs or grabbers are a great alternative to quickly collect leaves and other lawn debris without having to bend over. Depending on the width of the grabbers, you can cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time.

Leaf Grabber Recommendation: Earthwise Gator Grabber, $52 on Amazon

Earthwise has your back, literally. No longer will you have to bend over to rake and pick up leaves. Make leaf raking easier and convenient with the Gator Grabbers. With poly-fiber jaws and powder-coated steel shaft, grip and go picking up various yard waste and dispose of it without straining your back. The handles are adjustable to you can set your preference and comfort level each time in use.

Other Advice to Make Raking Leaves Easier

Raking leaves can be made easier and more efficient with the following tips:

1. Warm Up: Treat leaf raking as a form of exercise. Warm up your muscles with light stretches before you start to prevent strains.
2. Dress Comfortably: Wear comfortable clothing that allows for a full range of motion. Don’t forget gloves to protect your hands.
3. Proper Technique: Use a sweeping motion while raking, rather than bending over and pulling leaves towards you. This reduces strain on your back.
4. Right Frequency: Try to rake every three to four days, or about once a week. The more frequent you rake, the smaller your piles will be and helps keep airflow to your lawn.
5. Rake Downwind: Whenever possible, rake leaves in the direction of the wind. This way, the wind helps carry leaves away from the area you’re working in.
6. Take Breaks: Raking can be physically demanding, so take regular breaks to rest and hydrate. Overexerting yourself can lead to fatigue and potential injuries.
7. Alternate Sides: If you’re raking for an extended period, alternate your dominant hand to prevent muscle imbalances and reduce strain.
8. Mulching Mower: Consider using a mulching mower to chop leaves into smaller pieces. These can then be left on the lawn as natural mulch, which enriches the soil and reduces the need for disposal.
9. Enlist Help: If your yard is large or the task is particularly daunting, ask friends, family, or neighbors to help. It can make the job go faster and be more enjoyable.
10. Stay Hydrated: Keep a water bottle nearby and stay hydrated throughout the task.
11. Proper Posture: Maintain good posture while raking. Bend at the knees and keep your back straight to avoid unnecessary strain.
12. Break Large Areas into Sections: Divide larger areas into smaller sections to make the task more manageable. Focus on one section at a time.

Save Time & Your Back Raking This Fall

Remember, the goal is to make leaf raking as efficient and comfortable as possible while minimizing the risk of injury or strain. We need our backs in proper form for weekend activities with the kids and whatever other chores our wife has in store for us!

I hope these tips and tool recommendations help you come up with your leaf raking playbook for this fall and future seasons to come. Raking is good exercise, and it’s great being outdoors and all, but let’s rake smarter–not harder!