Stop Dropping Leaves: Pick Them Up With Ease With A Handheld Find From Lowe's

Clearing your yard of excess leaves may seem like a straightforward process: simply rake the leaves, bag them, and call it a day. Anyone who has had to contend with this chore in the past, however, knows that this is far from the truth. A more realistic look at the task involves repeatedly dropping a portion of the leaves you're attempting to scoop up, turning this chore into a drawn-out one. You can say goodbye to traditional rakes, thanks to an easy-to-use tool you can find at Lowe's: the Jardineer Steel Leaf Scoops and Claws.

Retailing for $29.99, this leaf scoop tool is a creative solution to collecting larger handfuls of leaves and rogue bits leftover from your piles. The scoops are made up of thin and long tines, sturdy handles, and comfortable wrist bars to slide your hands through. The scoops measure 16 ½ inches long by 14 inches wide, giving you a much larger surface with which to grab things. In addition to being helpful for gathering leaves, they can also be useful when it comes to scooping up pine needles or smaller sticks throughout the yard. If you've been looking for an alternative that makes cleaning up leaves a breeze, these could be an affordable option worth considering.

For individuals who choose to purchase these leaf scoops, you can look forward to a faster process when it comes to yard clean up, but there are some tips that will help your experience be more comfortable and successful. While these tools are fitted with soft pads to rest your wrists against, it's a good idea to pair them with gloves to prevent excessive friction on your wrists or blisters on the palms of your hands. Choose thinner, more flexible gloves — like the ones you'd use for pulling weeds in your garden — instead of thicker work gloves that can be less pliable.

Because these scoops essentially give your hands a larger grabbing surface, you can collect wet and dry leaves alike. If you like to rehome your leaves in your garden beds, the scoops can be useful for spreading them evenly over the ground, much like a larger rake would be. The smaller size of the tool, however, makes it easier to maneuver around plants and other obstacles. To prevent physical fatigue or dropping the leaves on the way to their destination — be it the trash can or your garden bed — it can be smart to pick up smaller piles at a time or to keep a leaf tarp nearby so you don't have to walk far with them. You could also try the tarp alternative from Home Depot that's better for collecting fallen leaves. After a leaf-collecting session, make sure that you wipe off the steel tines to prevent rust from taking over; while many products made from steel are also covered with a powder coating, the specifications do not state that these feature such a protective layer.