Table of Contents
Leaves pile up fast, and waiting makes it worse. The longer they sit, the heavier they get, the more they stick together, and the harder they are to move. Pick your method based on your yard size and how much effort you want to spend.
1. Rake Them
The classic for a reason. Rakes work on any yard size, don’t need power, and give you total control over where leaves go. Use a wide fan rake for open areas and switch to a narrower one for corners or between plants.
The trick is raking onto a tarp, not into piles you’ll shovel later. Drag the tarp to your disposal spot and dump. Saves your back and cuts the job time in half.
2. Blow Them Into Piles
Leaf blowers move leaves fast, especially on driveways, patios, and open lawn. They’re loud and you’ll need to deal with the piles afterward, but you can clear a large yard in 20 minutes instead of an hour.
For best results, blow leaves downwind into a corner or against a fence line, then scoop them up with a tarp or directly into bags. Don’t try to blow wet leaves – you’ll just push them around without moving them.
3. Mulch Them With a Mower
If your lawn mower has a mulching blade, you can chop leaves into small pieces that decompose into the grass. Works best when leaves are dry and you’ve got a light to moderate layer – too thick and you’ll clog the mower or smother the grass underneath.
Mulched leaves add nutrients back to the soil, so you’re feeding your lawn while cleaning it. Just don’t let leaves sit long enough to kill the grass before you mulch.
4. Vacuum Them Up
Lawn vacuums are like leaf blowers in reverse. They suck up leaves and shred them into a collection bag, cutting down volume by about 10:1. Great for detail work around flower beds or if you hate raking.
Most models double as blowers, so you get both tools in one. They’re heavier than a standard blower and you’ll need to empty the bag frequently, but if you’ve got a lot of leaves in tight spaces, they’re worth it.
5. Use a Lawn Sweeper
Push or tow-behind sweepers use rotating brushes to sweep leaves into a hopper. They’re fast, quiet, and work well on large, flat yards. If you’ve got a riding mower, a tow-behind sweeper can clear acres without you leaving the seat.
The downside is they’re bulky and need storage space. And they don’t handle steep slopes or rough terrain well – the brushes lose contact with the ground and stop picking up.
6. Let Them Decompose in Place
If you’ve got a light leaf layer and don’t care about a perfectly manicured lawn, you can let them break down naturally. Rake them off walkways and dense areas, but leave the rest. They’ll decompose over winter and feed the soil.
This doesn’t work if you’ve got a thick mat of leaves or a HOA that cares about curb appeal. But it’s the lowest-effort option and better for soil health than hauling everything away.
7. Compost Them
Leaves are carbon-rich and make excellent compost. Shred them first with a mower or shredder to speed decomposition, then layer them with nitrogen-rich greens like grass clippings or kitchen scraps.
By spring, you’ll have finished compost for garden beds. Just don’t use diseased leaves – they’ll spread problems to whatever you fertilize.
Pick the method that matches your property size and how much time you want to spend. For most people, a rake or blower handles the bulk of it, with a vacuum for detail work if you care about edges. The rest is just deciding where the leaves go after you move them.