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Fallen leaves increase when the wind blows hard or around autumn every year.
Even if you clean them every day, there is no end to the number of leaves that fall, and many of you may have trouble cleaning them properly, which makes the process time-consuming.
In this issue, we will introduce recommended tools for cleaning up fallen leaves and methods and tips for efficient cleaning!
If you have trouble cleaning up fallen leaves, it may be because you are not using the right tools for the right place.
Recommended Tools for Cleaning Up Fallen Leaves
When cleaning up fallen leaves, it is essential to use the appropriate cleaning tools for each location.
The following is a list of tools that can efficiently rake up fallen leaves by location.
Bamboo broom for hard ground such as asphalt
Bamboo brooms are made of fine bamboo and do not break easily when sweeping hard surfaces such as asphalt, and they do not get caught on tree and weed roots so that they can collect fallen leaves efficiently.
When sweeping with a regular broom, light fallen leaves can be troublesome as they can slip through the broom and break up into smaller pieces, so a bamboo broom is best for vast concrete areas.
Bamboo brooms can also sweep wet fallen leaves. It is unsuitable for raking them into dustbins, so a separate broom should be used.
The key to using it is to sweep at an angle of 45 degrees to the ground.
Do not press the broom against the ground; sweep with light pressure and stroking.
Use a rake for soft ground such as dirt or grass
A rake is recommended for soft ground such as soil or grass.
If you use a bamboo broom on soft ground, the soil will be swept up together with the broom, but with a rake, the earth will escape through the crevices, and only the fallen leaves will be collected.
A rake is unsuitable for areas with many grass and weeds, especially vines because the rake will get caught.
Sweep in a forward direction while lightly pressing the rake against the ground.
Use a blower for narrow or gravel areas
The most challenging place to sweep up fallen leaves is where there is gravel. Gravel is good for security, but if fallen leaves get between the stone, you must pick them up by hand.
Sweeping with a bamboo broom or rake is unsuitable because it will get buried in the gravel. So, although it will cost more, a blower is recommended for cleaning fallen leaves on rocks. The wind blows the fallen leaves away, making them easier to clean.
Cordless blowers are easier to use than corded ones, and those with a suction function are recommended.
To some extent, you can make cleaning more accessible by using the force of the wind to collect the leaves in one place, then using a suitable broom to place the collected leaves in a dustpan, etc., and then using the blower. To suck up the remaining small fallen leaves!
Using a broom in combination with a blower is recommended, as it is terribly time-consuming to suck up all the fallen leaves from start to finish.
Use a broom for the finishing touch
General brooms that come with a dustpan, such as those called PP brooms or those with plastic bristles, are not suitable for raking up fallen leaves because the bristles are soft and the broom’s width is narrow.
If you sweep forcefully, the fallen leaves will break up and become more acceptable, making it even more difficult and time-consuming to sweep.
Use an ordinary broom for the final step, such as when you need to throw away fallen leaves that have been raked up with a bamboo broom or rake or when you need to sweep up finely crushed fallen leaves.
How to Clean Up Fallen Leaves for Efficiency
The basic process for sweeping fallen leaves is to sweep them up with a broom, collect them, and throw them away.
Use a blower to blow away fallen leaves
Use a blower to blow away fallen leaves at the base of garden trees and other difficult places to sweep with a broom.
If there are no fallen leaves, especially in areas that are difficult to use a broom, a blower is not necessary.
Use a bamboo broom or rake to rake up fallen leaves
Use a bamboo broom, rake, or another tool appropriate for the area to rake up fallen leaves in one place.
If the area is large, divide the leaves into several places.
Use a dustpan or winnowing basket to put the collected fallen leaves into a garbage bag.
Sweep up the last remaining fallen leaves with a broom
After placing the fallen leaves in the garbage bag, collect the finely crushed fallen leaves with a broom and throw them into the garbage bag.
If you have a blower with a suction function, you can easily clean the area by sucking them up here.
Tips for Cleaning Up Fallen Leaves: Timing of Execution is Critical
Cleaning up fallen leaves is not just a matter of doing it whenever you feel like it.
Here are some tips and pointers to help you clean fallen leaves efficiently.
Do it when the weather is sunny, and the wind is calm
It is best to clean up fallen leaves on a day when the weather is sunny, and the wind is calm.
If the leaves are wet from the rain, they will stick to the floor and become challenging to sweep with a broom, and if it is windy, they will fly away.
It is best to sweep when the weather is sunny, the leaves are dry, and there is no wind.
Remove any leaves that look like they are about to fall
Even if you go to the trouble of sweeping up fallen leaves, they often fall again immediately afterward, and there is no end in sight.
When cleaning up fallen leaves, first shake the branches to remove the leaves that are about to fall, so the leaves will not fall again after cleaning.
Consider the direction in which you sweep leaves and where you collect them
The basic rule of thumb is to collect fallen leaves from all sides toward the center.
To prevent the wind from blowing the collected leaves away, try to manage them in an area that is out of the wind’s way.
If there is a blowdown area where fallen leaves naturally gather in one place, collect them in the blowdown area so that they are less affected by the wind.
Remember to clean out drains and gutters
Don’t forget to clean out leaves accumulated in drains, gutters, and downspouts.
If leaves accumulate in these areas, they may be damaged by the weight of heavy rain or typhoons, so do not forget to clean them to prevent damage before it happens.
How to dispose of fallen leaves? There are unexpected ways to use them
In the past, after cleaning up fallen leaves, you could dispose of them by burning them in your yard, but these days, they can be a nuisance to your neighbors and are prohibited by local authorities, so be sure to dispose of them properly.
Here are some methods for disposing of and utilizing fallen leaves.
Disposal according to local government rules
The rule for disposing of fallen leaves in most municipalities is to put them in burnable trash bags and throw them away on the designated day. Still, it is advisable to check the website or call the local government.
If the number of fallen leaves is too large to dispose of until the designated date and many garbage bags are in the way, you can also take them directly to the garbage collection point.
What Happens if You Don’t Clean Up Fallen Leaves?
Some people may think that since fallen leaves are natural in the first place, it is a good idea to leave them alone because they will eventually return to the soil.
Here we will explain some problems when fallen leaves are left unattended.
Disturbing the neighborhood
A few fallen leaves, such as autumn leaves, can be tasteful, but too many leaves can spoil the scenery, and neighbors may think you are careless.
In addition, fallen leaves can fly away and cause trouble for neighbors.
To prevent problems, clean up fallen leaves regularly to protect the landscape and avoid disturbing your neighbors.
Clogged gutters and drains
Fallen leaves fall in the yard and accumulate in gutters and drains.
If you leave fallen leaves in these areas unattended, they will be damaged by the weight of water absorbed by the fallen leaves during heavy rains or typhoons, or they will clog and leak due to lack of water flow, so be sure to inspect them regularly.
If You Can’t Clean Up Fallen Leaves, Leave It to the Professionals!
If your garden is too large or you cannot clean up fallen leaves from high places, we recommend that you leave the job to professionals such as house cleaners.
Some companies offer yard cleaning, tree care, and pest control services.
Conclusion
Cleaning fallen leaves can take tremendous effort and time if you use the wrong tools, so we have learned that it is essential to use the right cleaning tools for the right place.
Please refer to the tools we have introduced and how to use them, and make sure you have the right cleaning tools for the condition of your yard and try to clean it up!
If you don’t clean up fallen leaves, not only will you spoil the landscape, but you may also cause damage to your house, so clean up regularly to protect your home.
If it’s too difficult to clean up fallen leaves yourself, leave it to the professionals, like house cleaners!
