How to Rake Leaves the Quick and Easy Way

1. Gather Your Tools and Materials

   A rake, paper lawn waste bags, and maybe a tarp are the essentials to have on hand. Choose a rake suitable for you; consider its height, the size of the handle, its weight, and what it's made from. Some people prefer old-fashioned metal tine rakes, while some prefer the newer plastic ones. There are also ergonomic rakes for better comfort while raking. A pair of well-fitting heavy duty gloves (leather, kid or canvas) is also a good idea to help prevent blisters and protecting your hands from branches. Wear long sleeves, sturdy shoes, and maybe a hat and sunglasses.

2. Rake the Garden Beds and Yard

   Starting in your garden beds, set your rake on the ground and pull it toward you so the leaves move in one direction. You may need to bend down and used gloved hands to remove leaves collecting around the base of shrubs like hydrangeas or spireas. Once you've done the garden beds, you can move on to the rest of the yard.

   There's no "right" way to rake, other than making sure to avoid overdoing it. Take frequent breaks as needed; raking is work! Switch directions and positions to alleviate discomfort and fatigue.
   

   Tip

   Though many people try to use leaf blowers for leaf clean up, a rake is much more efficient (and much less noisy). Blowers can also cause physical discomfort or be especially tiring to use. The best use of a leaf blower is not for raking but for quick cleanup of sidewalks or driveways once the raking is done.

3. Put the Leaves Into a Pile

   Keep raking the leaves together until you have them all in a pile or in a line. Any branches should be broken into smaller pieces that would fit into a bag.

   Plan to bag the leaves soon after raking to prevent rain or wind from undoing your hard work.
   

4. Use a Tarp to Move the Leaves

   If your yard is large, and you want to put your leaves closer to the curb to avoid having to drag the heavy bags later, the easiest and fastest method is to use a lightweight tarp and rake your leaves onto it, then drag the tarp to the curb. Pull it by two corners held together, then roll it sideways with the leaves wrapped up (like a burrito) to position it before you unroll it to drop the leaves. This is less cumbersome than using a wheelbarrow or cart.

   Keep the tarp on hand to toss over a raked pile of leaves in the event of a sudden rainstorm or if the wind picks up; weigh down the corners with a brick or some garden pots.
   

5. Bag Your Leaves

   There are a number of ways to get leaves into your bags. You can use your hands, wear some of those nifty gloves with little rakes attached, or hold the rake in one hand and keep the leaves on it with your other hand. As long as the bag is less than half full, you can put it on its side and rake the leaves in. If you're using a tarp, you can ask a friend to help you funnel the burrito of leaves into a bag.

   As you fill the bag, shake it gently to settle the leaves, and press them down with gloved hands to compress them and make more room. Don't fill them too full; leave enough space so you can fold the top over to prevent them spilling and also keep wildlife out of the bags. Also resist the temptation of putting anything in your leaf bags that isn't compostable yard waste, and avoid adding food scraps — even an apple core will encourage critters to go exploring.
   

6. Drag the Bags Curbside and Cover

   If your leaf bags won't be removed for a while, keep an eye on the weather report and throw a tarp over them if it's going to rain heavily. Wet leaf bags can break and scatter leaves everywhere!

Mulch or Compost Your Leaves

Instead of disposing of leaves, many gardeners use them for mulch or compost. It's best to shred the leaves first (especially oak leaves which are very thick and tend to break down more slowly), which you can do by using your lawnmower to go over the leaves on your lawn. Some lawnmowers even have a mulching setting. You can also rake them out of beds onto your lawn, and use the mower that way. This is also an alternative to raking if you don't have very many fallen leaves in your yard; leaving the shredded leaves on your lawn will add nutrients to your lawn as they slowly decompose. If the leaves are relatively small, they need not be shredded.

If you're using unshredded leaves as a protective mulch over your flower beds or vegetable garden in the winter, use a fairly thin layer (2 to 3 inches maximum) to discourage wildlife from bedding in them. Also be sure to remove them in the spring. Some gardeners do this in stages, waiting until the first spring plants appear to provide food for beneficial insects that may be sheltering under the leaves.