Ditch The Rake And Swap To This Unexpected DIY Solution For Leaves This Fall

Beautifully falling leaves are some of many things people look forward to when autumn rolls around. And it's not just the colors that reel people in — seeing a leaf pile makes many folks nostalgic for the days they spent diving into them as kids. Sadly, though, raking leaves becomes much more of a chore as you get older. The job can be long and tiresome, and make some folks wish winter would hurry up already. Fortunately, there's a clever solution to clear away leaves without a leaf blower or even a rake: All you need is a cardboard box.

Not everyone rakes their leaves. Some skip the chore altogether, which can be beneficial to insects and creatures that use the foliage as shelter. On the other hand, layers of them can ruin your lawn by shielding it from getting any sun. A huge layer of leaves can also affect the look of your yard, and be particularly bothersome to those who prefer a more well-maintained appearance. If that sounds like you, simply grab a flat cardboard box and use it to shift all of the leaves into piles. Trust us: the process goes a lot quicker than you might expect.

To begin, grab a flattened cardboard box. Hold one side with both hands, then position the opposite edge downward so that it gets underneath the layer of leaves. From there, just walk forward, using the box to clear all the leaves in its path. Repeat this process row by row, pushing all the leaves into a neat pile. To make your job even easier, lay tarps down where you plan to make the pile, then push the leaves on top. That way, you can just drag the tarp to wherever you want the leaves.

While there are tips that make raking the leaves in your yard easier, this is a unique and speedy DIY solution — though, admittedly, there are some downsides. The leaves would need to be dry in order to keep the cardboard box from getting too wet and limp. Additionally, holding the box means being hunched over for as long as it takes to move the leaves, which isn't ideal for anyone with a bad back.

Still, if you despise raking, this is a handy trick that could save you time in the right conditions. Plus, a box is a lot less expensive than certain leafblower alternatives you could buy to clean leaves out of your yard, or even most rakes. Even if you don't do it every time, using a box is a good backup plan if your preferred leaf cleaning gear breaks.