Getting Through Another Season Of Fallen Leaves

It hardly seems possible, but here we are again. Leaf season. Resplendent and colorful on the trees, leaves become a painstaking chore once they blanket the lawn. You’d think that after putting a man on the moon we’d have figured out an easier way to do fall cleanup.

While there aren’t any space-age solutions just yet, there are a few ways to make the annual task a little less taxing, starting with having the right tools on hand.

Tricks Of The Trade

Regardless of how large or small your yard is, chances are you own a rake. But are you using the right kind and does it even matter?

For the most part, rakes are pretty standard, but they’re not all created equal. The most popular are the plastic variety, according to Bob Krieger, owner of Katz Ace Hardware in Glastonbury, who said that they’ve come a long way in the last few years.

“The plastic breaks more easily in colder weather,” said Krieger, “but they are the most durable and last the longest.”

Folks still using metal rakes to do their entire yard might want to reconsider, he said, since they are best used for raking small areas around the house and between bushes.

While clog-free rakes are good in theory, Krieger said that they tend to be more difficult to rake with and don’t pick up as well as the others.

He prefers bamboo rakes because they leave the grass fluffier and perform better overall with one caveat: They can break more easily.

Bigger yards may require a little more horsepower, and should you have three or more acres in need of clearing, you might want to consider a self-propelled, walk-behind, leaf blower.

Greg Oliger, co-owner of Newtown Power Equipment in Newtown, said that the largest his business sells is an 18-horsepower, Fradan commercial blower that will set you back close to $3,000.

“Not everybody is going to spend that kind of money,” he said, “unless they have a large yard with tremendous leaf cover.”

For smaller yards he recommends a Little Wonder wheeled blower, which, depending on the size and model, can run anywhere from $569 to $2,600.

“The Little Wonder is ideal for homeowners having anywhere from one to three acres of lawn to do. It’s very powerful and can be used on a larger piece of property.”

Oliger also said that the self-propelled leaf blowers are ideal for hilly lots, which are common in New England.

Backpack blowers are popular and range in price from $130 to $600, providing an affordable leaf-removal option for homeowners with smaller lots.

“It’s what people most commonly buy,” said Oliger. “They come in a nice price range with a lot of power and allow you to go out move quite a bit of debris.”

Homeowners looking to save a few bucks can rent backpack and self-propelled blowers from local retailers including Katz Ace Hardware and other Ace Hardware stores, Taylor Rental and The Home Depot. Depending on the model, the cost is generally between $27 to $44 per half-day and $38 to $63 for a full day.

Lawn or leaf sweepers are still another option. Push sweepers can be used for smaller yards while lawn tractor sweeper attachments work better on more expansive ones. They are available in a variety of models and sizes at most big box home stores and start at around $100.

Aw, Do We Have To?

Depending on tree cover and the size of your yard, dealing with leaves can be time consuming and hard work. Homeowners opting not to remove leaves, however, run the risk of suffocating their lawn, said Carol Quish, horticulturist for the University of Connecticut Home and Garden Education Center located in Storrs.

“Don’t leave matted leaves on the lawn as this can kill the grass,” she said. “Matted leaves hold moisture, inviting fungus and offer protection to over-wintering insects.”

A thick covering of leaves can also cause a host of other problems according to John Inguagiato, Ph.D., and assistant professor of Turfgrass Pathology at the University of Connecticut.

“Intact leaves left to pile up on lawns will get wet, and soon begin to break down and smother turfgrasses,” he said. “This physical barrier can be too thick for grasses to grow up through, and can result in bare spots where turf beneath the matted leaves has died.”

Inguagiato also said that a thick layer of leaves left on the lawn can prevent sunlight from reaching the grass, causing it to grow taller in an attempt to reach light, and wasting energy needed to rebuild reserves in preparation for winter.

Finally, unattended leaf piles can also create pockets in the turfgrass conducive to fungal snow mold diseases resulting in bare spots come springtime.

According to Quish, the best way to take care of your leaves is to keep up on removing them throughout the season.

“The easiest thing to do is start mowing them when leaves first begin to fall. Later when the leaves are getting deeper, still mow them, but mow in a square or circle, sending the chopped up leaves to the center.

“Soon there will be a wide pile of small leaf bits which can be raked onto a tarp and dragged to the compost or added the vegetable or perennial beds. In the spring either turn the leaf parts into the soil or leave them in place as a mulch.”

Inguagiato also recommends mulching them as long as they are reduced to mulch dime-sized or smaller as to not smother the grass.

“Perhaps the best approach to deal with leaves, and save time, is to utilize mulching mowers weekly to incorporate leaf matter into the lawn during periods of light, dry leaf-drop,” he said.

“During periods of heavy leaf drop, or when leaves are wet, raking leaves to remove the majority of them may be necessary.”

Ouch, My Aching Back

Most anyone who has ever spent a few hours raking, hauling, blowing or bagging leaves knows there’s often a price to pay when the work is done.

“We tend to see overuse shoulder injuries during leaf removal season, as well as some upper and lower back issues from dragging the leaves through the yards and bending to put leaves in bags,” said Wendy Nichols, a physical therapist with the Hartford Hospital Rehabilitation Network.

To avoid them, Nichols recommends taking frequent breaks to prevent fatigue.

“When we get fatigued, we tend to overuse our muscles,” she said. “Our form breaks down, putting more strain on our bodies.”

Nichols said that using good body mechanics can help prevent muscle strains and injuries.

“First, use the power of your arms and legs to pull the rake while minimizing how much your back moves.

“When holding the rake, place one hand at the top of the handle and the other hand down the handle far enough so that your elbow bends just slightly. This way you can stand up as straight as possible and only use your arms and legs to rake.”

She also said to avoid excessive twisting and, instead, step to the side while raking to allow your strong leg muscles to absorb the stress.

When bagging leaves, Nichols suggests kneeling down on one knee or even sitting on the ground to avoid bending over at the waist and stressing the lower back. When lifting the leaves, use the same kneeling technique, keeping the bag close to you and your back locked inward while shifting your weight onto the forward leg, and to stand up slowly.

Finally, being mindful of your physical limitations is important and if necessary, don’t be afraid to ask a spouse or neighbor for help, or consider doing lighter, but more frequent, loads.

“Remember that the leaves are not going anywhere,” Nichols said. “If you get tired or achy while raking, stop and rest. If you listen to the signals your body sends you, you are much more apt to avoid an unnecessary injury.”