Tired of fighting with fallen leaves every fall? Here’s the secret: work smarter, not harder.
Start with the basics — grab a lightweight rake, let the wind help you, and use tarps to haul everything. Then level up with leaf vacuums, mulching, and dividing your yard into manageable sections.
Ready to rake like a pro? These 16 tips for cleaning up leaves will transform your lawn care for good.
- 1. Use a Lightweight Leaf Rake With Flexible Tines
- 2. Adjust Your Rake Handle
- 3. Invest in Leaf Scoops
- 4. Vacuum the Leaves for Compost
- 5. Rake Before Rain
- 6. Use Your Whole Body, Not Just Your Arms
- 7. Rake in Sections
- 8. Rake Leaves Onto a Tarp
- 9. Create Strategic Collection Points
- 10. Line Tarps Up Before Starting
- 11. Work With the Wind Direction, Not Against It
- 12. Don’t Wait Until All the Trees are Bare
- 13. Use a Mulching Mower for Light Leaf Coverage
- 14. Pack Leaves in Bags While They’re on the Tarp
- 15. Cover Any Leaves You Don’t Bag
- 16. Clean Gutter Spouts
- FAQ
1. Use a Lightweight Leaf Rake With Flexible Tines
A lightweight leaf rake with flexible tines is ideal for this job because it won’t dig into your lawn or tear up the grass, unlike a garden rake.
The key is to let the rake do the work for you. You’re removing leaves, not dethatching the lawn. Instead of pressing down and scraping, lift the rake slightly and let it drop on the leaves. Then, simply pull it toward you.
See Related: 12 Types of Rakes: Uses and Tips
2. Adjust Your Rake Handle
A rake with a short handle will require you to lean over when raking leaves, potentially straining your lower back muscles. Adjust the handle so it’s long enough to allow raking with a straight back.
You don’t need long strokes; landing the tines about a step’s length in front of you is just fine.
3. Invest in Leaf Scoops
Looking for the easiest way to pick up leaves? Try leaf scoops. They’re like giant plastic bear claws that slip over your hands with elastic straps. Just squat down, sweep leaves between the scoops, then lift and dump into a bag.
Bad knees? Avoid squatting by using a leaf grabber instead — it’s the same scoop but on long handles.
4. Vacuum the Leaves for Compost
Producing your own compost? Leaf vacuums suck up leaves, shred them into tiny pieces, and pack them into bags ready for your compost bin. It’s ideal for lawns with numerous trees and for cleaning hard-to-reach spaces, such as under shrubs or patios.
| Note: Consider a leaf blower vacuum. It’s a 2-in-1 you can use for blowing leaves into piles and then vacuuming the piles. |
See Related: What to Do With Fallen Leaves in Your Yard
5. Rake Before Rain
If you have fallen leaves to remove from your lawn, do so before the rain comes, or you’ll work twice as hard.
Rain-soaked leaves stick to the grass, to the ground, to each other, turning raking leaves into a real workout. Plus, they can weigh 2 to 5 times more than dry leaves.
See Related: How to Clean Up Wet Leaves in Your Yard
6. Use Your Whole Body, Not Just Your Arms
Don’t lean and twist like a pretzel trying to reach every leaf — that will wreck your back. Instead, use your feet.
- Take a small step forward and drop the rake on the leaves. Then drag your foot back along with the rake. Do the same if raking from the sides.
- Keep your upper arms close to your body. When you need to reach further, take another step forward instead of overextending your arms.
See Related: How to Rake Leaves
7. Rake in Sections
“Divide and conquer” works wonders for leaf cleanup. Divide your lawn into sections and tackle each one at a time, taking breaks in between.
Within each section, rake leaves toward the center to make small piles. Bag them before moving to the next section, or the next gust of wind might scatter your hard work everywhere.
| Hire a LawnStarter leaf removal pro to clean up the leaves in your yard. Our customers pay an average of $158 for leaf removal and rate our professionals 4.3/5 stars. |
8. Rake Leaves Onto a Tarp
The easiest leaf collection method is to rake the leaves directly onto a tarp and then drag the tarp away.
Leaves can get heavy when piled, so get thick tarps. Look for tear-proof polyethylene tarps that are 16 mil (0.016 inches) thick or thicker. Rope handles make hauling easier.
9. Create Strategic Collection Points
Plan your leaf collection points to avoid piling the leaves in inconvenient spots — the middle of the lawn, blocking walkways, or too far from their final destination.
- Place collection points near your truck, compost area, or those flower beds you want to mulch.
- Choose spots with windbreaks, such as fences, hedges, or buildings.
10. Line Tarps Up Before Starting
Got multiple tarps? Smart! Spread them on different sections of your yard before you start raking. You’ll fill each one without having to walk back and forth.
Only have one tarp? No worries. Just move it from section to section as you work your way across the lawn. Lay it down before you start raking leaves to save time.
11. Work With the Wind Direction, Not Against It
Rake the lawn on a calm day or when there’s a light breeze. If it’s breezy, make the wind your helper. Rake in the direction of the wind — it will push leaves toward your pile and help move them faster.
12. Don’t Wait Until All the Trees are Bare
You could wait until every leaf drops, but here’s the problem: the bottom layer gets soggy and matted down, making the leaves way harder to rake. Plus, that thick leaf blanket suffocates your grass, turning it yellow and creating a haven for pests.
The smart move? Get out there every time the leaf coverage reaches around 50%. Your lawn and your back will thank you.
13. Use a Mulching Mower for Light Leaf Coverage
When leaves cover under 50% of your lawn, skip the rake and grab your mower instead. You’ll save hours of work — no raking, bagging, or hauling — and those shredded leaves act like free organic fertilizer for your grass.
A mulching mower works best since it chops leaves into tiny pieces that break down faster.
See Related:
14. Pack Leaves in Bags While They’re on the Tarp
If you’re bagging for pick-up, do it while the leaves are on the tarp. Stomp on the pile to compact the leaves and fit more in each bag. Then roll the tarp into a funnel and pour the leaves directly into bags.
15. Cover Any Leaves You Don’t Bag
Never leave loose piles sitting on the lawn — one strong wind blast can undo hours of work.
Stomp on the pile to compact it, then cover it with a tarp or landscape fabric weighed down at the corners. This way, the pile will remain untouched until you have time to bag the leaves.
16. Clean Gutter Spouts
Fallen leaves often clog downspouts curves, causing gutters to overflow and potentially flood your foundation during heavy rain.
Try breaking the clogs with a blast from your garden hose — it’s surprisingly effective. Still blocked? A drum auger or a regular plumber’s snake usually does the job.
| Pro Tip: Install gutter guards to keep fallen leaves from clogging your spouts. |
FAQ
Handle thick layers of matted leaves in steps. Remove the top layers with a blower. Then, use a rake or a mower to clean up the rest.
Reduce future raking by trimming trees in winter or early spring — fewer branches mean fewer fall leaves. Professional tree trimming costs $430 to $640 per tree.
Speed up bagging by collecting leaves on a tarp, then funnel them into bags. Leaf bag holders and rings can help by keeping the bags open for easy filling.
Skip the Work: Hire a Pro
Still overwhelmed by leaf cleanup? Skip the raking and bagging. Hire a LawnStarter leaf removal pro to handle your fall cleanup while you enjoy your weekend.
Sources:
- “Mulch Mowing Fall Leaves.” Kansas State University.
- “Take Care When Raking Leaves.” Johns Hopkins University.
- “Tips To Avoid Back Pain From Raking Leaves.” Cleveland Clinic.
- “Yard and Garden: Managing Fallen Leaves.” By Aaron J. Steil, consumer horticulture Extension specialist. Iowa State University.
Main Image: Leaves and fan rake on a tarp. Photo Credit: Scott Habermann / Adobe Stock.
