I’m looking for advice on handling the huge amount of leaves in our yard this fall. We’re new homeowners, and it’s a bit overwhelming—so far, we’ve filled around 30 bags, and it barely seems to make a difference!
Would it be smart to mow or mulch the leaves into the lawn? I’ve read mixed opinions on whether that helps or harms the grass, especially with this many leaves.
Any tips would be much appreciated!!!
I do a combination of mulching them into the yard and vacuuming them up. Then I either dump them into my yard waste container or spread them over the lawn.
I’ve learned over the years that the amount of leaves is just too much and doesn’t break down quickly enough for my yard. Mulching helps, but in the end, I need to compost some of them.
@Beryl
If it’s too much to mow into the yard, keep some for mulching the garden beds. Putting 3-4 inches in the fall helps keep weeds down and adds nutrients.
@Beryl
Does a shop vac work?
Keenan said:
@Beryl
Does a shop vac work?
Yes, it would. It might take around 6 hours for the backyard, and you’d have to empty it quite often, but it can work… Assuming you have a big hose on your powerful shop vac.
@SophieMarley
Connect the shop vac to a large barrel-sized dust collector attachment to increase your collection capacity.
Keenan said:
@Beryl
Does a shop vac work?
Not sure! I’d guess yes, but I got a leaf vacuum so it could pick up leaves and mulch at the same time.
I just blow them into the neighbor’s yard.
Ashby said:
I just blow them into the neighbor’s yard.
Came here to say this lol.
I wish I had a big zero-turn mower to chop up all these leaves.
Seems like a lot of extra work to drag all these leaves just to mulch them. You can just use a bagging attachment on your lawn mower in one step.
Seems like a lot of extra work to drag all these leaves just to mulch them. You can just use a bagging attachment on your lawn mower in one step.
Using a push mower like a Honda HRX with mulching blades works great. I never bag, rake, or blow leaves. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
All good ideas. If you saw my yard, the person who posted this would have a panic attack. I mulch once and then a week later, I tarp some to the street. Repeat a few more times during leaf season. I live in a small town where the city vacuum truck comes around several times. I also have a ditch to put the leaves in so I don’t have to put them on the grass. When I tarp, I tie a small rope to two of the grommets for easier handling.
Bag mow just above the grass line while going in reverse.
Bag mow just above the grass line while going in reverse.
Why in reverse?
Bag mow just above the grass line while going in reverse.
Why in reverse?
Isn’t it obvious? For the same reason you should wipe side to side.
@Rin
… you wipe side to side?
Yeah, and I mow in reverse. You don’t?
I think most people wipe up and down and have a self-propelled mower that only goes forward.
Bag mow just above the grass line while going in reverse.
Why in reverse?
180 degrees no scope.
