The Effective Method That Makes Raking Leaves A Total Breeze

Raking leaves can be a charming and nostalgic task for some individuals, but for others, it can easily become overwhelming. This is especially true for people who have large properties or who are already inundated with other chores; carving out the time to rake leaves can be a challenging task. Whether you love or loathe raking leaves in autumn, however, chances are you'd jump at any tips that could make raking the leaves in your yard a quick and easy job. The good news is that such an effective method does exist, and it doesn't require any fancy tools or equipment.

What is this leaf raking method, you may be asking? This clever tip for making raking your leaves easier is called the grid method. It involves breaking the behemoth task of raking your entire yard into smaller, bite-sized pieces. Instead of raking all of the leaves into one huge pile that will then have to be bagged, you simply work in more manageable sections, raking and bagging as you go. While this is a more halting approach to cleaning up fallen leaves, it can help chip away at the bigger job, delivering satisfying results throughout the raking session.

If up until now you have been raking your entire yard in a single go, using the grid method may bring a more manageable and appealing pace to this seasonal chore. In order to test it on your own property, start by visualizing the layout of your yard, then mentally dividing the property into 8 to 10-foot squares. If you have a fence separating the front and back, you'll already be accustomed to raking in sections; the grid method will just take you a step further. Work in individual sections, starting by raking leaves from the perimeter of the yard into small piles to form a row in each section. Also, work in the direction of the wind so you aren't fighting against it.

The key to this method is to rake your leaves into a number of manageable piles that can then be bagged. A yard that is completely blanketed by leaves may require 6-square-foot sections to your grid approach, while a more dappled yard may allow you to rake up larger sections. You can choose to finish with a dedicated bagging session or bag each of the piles as you go. The latter is preferable for days with high winds to prevent your work from being undone. The same goes if you're using a pop-up leaf bag, as you'll need to empty the contents of the container between each bagging session anyways. Just remember to bag all the piles you rake and never let the raked leaves in your yard pile up.