As fall comes along, trees shed their leaves, which for homeowners brings the inevitable chore of raking. Especially after all the energy spent on caring for their lawn during the summer, they must now take the time to clear the fallen leaves to make sure that they have a beautiful lawn the next spring.

Here are a few rules to follow when the time comes to rake leaves from your property.

The best time to rake

It is highly recommended that you wait until all the leaves have fallen before raking. In fact, it’s much quicker to remove a large quantity of leaves in one go than to rake smaller quantities several times.

Also, dry leaves are easier to clear away than damp or wet ones. So it’s better to wait a few days after heavy rains. You must be patient and wait for the bulk of the leaves to fall and dry out before collecting them!

The right way to rake leaves

When it’s time to sweep up fallen leaves, you should choose a good quality rake with a long handle and a large head with flexible tines in metal or plastic. Other tools for clearing leaves are also available on the market. Don’t hesitate to talk to a sales consultant at your neighbourhood hardware store for advice on leaf blowers, rakes and other tools to clear yard debris.

Ideally, you should rake dead leaves over a waterproof sheet spread out on the ground. This will make the task of bagging up the fallen leaves easier. To have Mother Nature on your side, it is recommended that you push the leaves in the same direction as the wind. As raking leaves is a demanding physical exercise, don’t forget to stretch before and after and drink plenty of water.