The Clever Towel Trick That Makes Garden Cleanup 10X Easier

If you're tempted to skip tree pruning this year because of how long it takes to round up all the stray twigs and branches that fall to the ground after being trimmed, you're not alone. One solution is to purchase a specially designed drop cloth, made for collecting the droppings, so that you can pick them all up and dispose of them in one go.

However, you don't actually have to buy a new product in order to make the task of garden clean-up much easier. Rather than a special pruning drop cloth, you can instead reuse the old towels you likely already have at the back of your linen closet. Simply lay the towel on the ground below the shrub or tree you are planning to prune and allow it to collect all the greenery that falls. Then, pick the towel up by the edges — making sure to keep the leaves trapped in the middle — and dump the trimmings. 

This trick also works with larger tarps, though the smaller size of a beach or bath towel is convenient for slotting underneath bushes and can be easier to carry. This is an incredibly simple and affordable trick that you can employ whenever you need to do some pruning. There are a few additional tips that can help you make the most of this idea for the quickest way to clean up your garden after pruning.

This trick is particularly useful if your bushes or trees are surrounded by mulch, gravel, or long grass because it saves you from having to pick out each cutting from amongst the landscaping or from using a rake or a leaf blower, which can be time-consuming and inefficient. If you have an extra large plant to prune, try laying one towel down on either side to catch more of the trimmings without having to stop and move the towel halfway through. Similarly, when pruning a long line of hedges, you could lay multiple old towels down with their ends slightly overlapping. This will ensure that none of the trimmings fall through the gaps.

If your towel is large — such as a bath sheet or beach towel — and you are struggling to grab the edges without some trimmings falling out, try rolling it instead. This will help trap the leaves inside and make the bundle easier to carry. Finally, if you live in a climate that can get breezy, you may want to weigh down the corners of your towel with a few rocks. This will prevent the towel from getting caught in the wind and spreading the clippings all over your yard. So, if you're looking for how to prune your trees the right way to save yourself some time and effort, why not dig out those old towels and give this trick a go? You might be surprised how much more enjoyable pruning is when you no longer dread a long, arduous clean-up process.