Raking leaves is a fall task-love it or hate it. Work with or avoid the wind, try to pick a day when there is no wind to interfere with the job. If you only have time to rake leaves on a windy day, rake the leaves the same direction that the wind is blowing. Keep your pathways and high traffic areas clear of leaves on an ongoing basis until all the leaves have fallen, then it is time to get down to business. Make sure you use the right tools for the job. That old metal fan rake in the shed might be there waiting for you but perhaps its useful days are over. There are many rake alternatives out there these days that can literally take the backache out of raking.
Raking leaves can be a real workout on your body. Be sure to practice proper raking technique before, during and after the the job. You need to warm up your body by stretching before you start. While raking, be sure to keep good posture and stand upright. Switch your hands on the rake handle and
always bend at the knees-not the back when you pick up a pile of leaves. Also don’t try to do too much at once, you can divide your yard into sections and work on them over a period of days. Or you can take breaks between raking each section to drink water and rest.
The key to efficient raking is to rake the leaves into small piles on top of a tarp or a piece of plastic, then transfer them to a compost pile or trash bags. Wet leaves are heavier, so try to do your raking during a dry stretch of weather. Another way to clean up your leaves is by by turning them into mulch that’s bagged by the mower. Happy raking. De Hart Plumbing Heating and Cooling, serving Manhattan Kansas, Junction City Kansas, Wamego Kansas and some surrounding areas.