When it comes to yard work, fall clean up is arguably one of the least favorite activities for the average homeowner. But, it does not have to be that way.
With the right preparation and these suggestions, fall clean up can be an enjoyable activity, allowing you an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors before the coldness of winter finally sets in.
Should I clean up at all?
According to a recent article in the New York Times, cleaning your yard during the fall may not be the best thing for the environment, at least if you clean up every leaf that falls. The leaf litter is used for various animals for food, shelter, and building materials for winter burrows. Cleaning up all the litter in the fall takes that from the local wildlife, but you also cannot just leave it. Neighbors won’t like you, and worse than that, leaf litter can contribute to the tick population and all of those resulting problems. So what do you do? Well first…
Check the weather!
When the time comes to plan out your fall yard cleaning, one of the most important things to know is what your local weather is going to be like on the day you plan to get things done. Knowing the weather and having the people and supplies is the first step towards getting this task done.
Before the Fall
One of the best tips for Fall yard clean up takes place long before the Fall ever arrives. Mowing your yard with a mulching mower instead of a bagging mower not only reduces the amount of yard waste you have to deal with during the year, but it is also better for your yard. The grass clippings are mostly water and break down into much-needed nutrients for your lawn, so save yourself some effort and use a mulcher instead of a bagger when you mow.
Use Tarps!
Raking your yard debris into a tarp makes bagging much easier. You can just create a “funnel” out of the tarp and put one end in a contractor bag. Lift the other end and Voila! Bag O’ Leaves!
Buckets of fun!
Ok, maybe not so much fun, but handy! Five-gallon buckets can be used in a variety of ways, from a place to scoop the poop, to a way to carry small hand tools, weeds, sticks, or other debris from your yard. A few holes drilled into the bottom makes an easy computing bucket as well. Throw a lid on and turn them now and then, and compost for your garden is free!
Winterize!
Some things around your yard are best done during the Fall season, like cleaning your gutters, but there are others that really have to be done, like rolling and draining your hoses. If you forget this job, you will have cracked hoses, and maybe broken pipe spigots!
Storage
Make sure if you store yard debris that you do it away from your house. Keeping yard waste near your home is a way to invite critters and pests close. Behind the garage, or better yet, in a compost pile is the best storage option if you must keep waste on your property.
Get Help!
Of course, having the right tools and help is always the best for any job, and yard work is no different! Mowers, blowers, and tools can be expensive, and sometimes it is better to rent than to buy. Other times the job is just too big, or you do not have enough time to do it yourself. When that is the case, always know that Queen Bee Cleaning LLC is your full-service yard clean up, specialists. If you need it done and do not want to tackle it yourself, or do not want to purchase the tools, call us, and we will take care of it for you!
Hopefully, you find something useful in these tips, and if you have any I missed, please message me and help teach me!