As the days are getting shorter and we make our way into the colder months there are a few gardening jobs that can’t be avoided. Raking and clearing leaves is often top of the autumn to-do list, and while it’s an important task, it doesn’t need to become a laborious chore.
With a few clever strategies, you can make light work of the clean-up and finish the gardening season on a high.
From how to rake like a pro to a clever lawn-clearing hack, here’s three tips to make your autumn garden clean up a breeze.
1. Clear only what you need to
Once autumn comes around and leaves and foliage start to fall, you’ll want to tidy garden pathways and lawns. While it’s important to make sure main entrances and walkways are clear of slippery hazards, don’t worry about raking your entire garden until your tree branches are bare – or you’ll just have to pull the rake out again. Save yourself some time and effort by waiting until most of the leaves from your trees and shrubs are on the ground.
There are also some spots, like flowerbeds, where you can leave the fallen foliage to bed down into soil as it will benefit your garden. Leaves are full of nutrients that can enrich the soil with organic matter.
Pick a day when the weather is right for clearing up, if you can. Wind and rain will hinder your efforts as everything is heavier when wet.
2. Use the right tools for the job
The correct gardening tools can make light work of the toughest jobs and upgrading your equipment can do wonders for your productivity. For example, choosing the right leaf rake can cut the time it takes to get the job done considerably. Cyclone’s Extra Wide Leaf Rake is perfect for collecting leaves, lawn clippings, twigs and garden debris and its extra wide tine shape covers large areas quickly and collects 45 percent more leaves per sweep1.
You may want to buy a tool that has a dual purpose. The Cyclone Great Aussie Super Rake will also cut the time it takes to rake leaves from a lawn or pathway in half, and it has the extra benefit that when turned around it can be used for levelling sand and shifting water from concrete driveways and garage floors. It’s also great for topdressing come springtime.
A Cyclone Garden Bag is also ideal for the bulk collection of leaves and garden debris. And remember to wear a pair of gardening gloves when you’re raking in the garden to help protect your hands from blisters while you work.
3. Run your lawnmower
If your lawn has 50 percent coverage of leaves or less, you may get away without raking it at all. Use your lawnmower to shred and help break down the leaves. The small pieces will then settle between the blades of grass where they’ll decompose over time and add nutrients to your lawn. Alternatively, collect the mulched leaves with your mower’s bag attachment as you go and then add them to your compost pile.
Finally, sit back and enjoy the time you’ve saved with a cup of tea as you bask in the autumn sunshine and think about what you’ll plant in the spring.
Brought to you by Cyclone.
1Under real-life testing this rake captured 45 percent more leaves per motion than a comparable width, standard triangular rake.
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