Sun Joe SBJ597E-SJB 6-Amp 155 MPH Electric Leaf Blower, Blue
About this item
- VERSATILE: Clean sweeping patios, driveways, decks and garages
- POWERFUL: 6-amp motor creates up to 155 mph air speed (max)
- NO LOAD SPEED: 12,000/13,500 RPM
- LIGHTWEIGHT: Only weighs 3.9 lbs!
- Rated Voltage 120 V ~ 60 Hz
How to dispose of fall leaves
In many places, fall is the time of year that is characterized by falling leaves from trees and other vegetation. Although the leaves will end up decomposing if you leave them on the ground, you can speed up the process. You can also collect and recycle them or throw them away. No matter what you decide to do with them, making a plan will make fall cleaning easier.
Method 1 Plan ahead
1
Build growing beds near deciduous trees. Make grow beds with plants that love natural mulch near the shedding trees in your yard. When there are leaves on the ground, run the mower over them once. Then, rake them up and carry them to the beds. [1]
- For the beds, consider including shrubs, garlic, roses, and young perennials. [2]
2
Decide if you need to collect the leaves. It is natural that there is a layer of leaves of several centimeters and this can even host an ecosystem. Wildlife such as salamanders, turtles, squirrels, and other species survive in such small habitat. [3] The layer of fallen leaves (litter) also provides shelter for beneficial insects and worms during winter. However, if thick layers of leaves are suffocating your lawn, you should shred them if you are not collecting them. [4]
Consider collecting the leaves if they cover more than a third of the garden and you can't see the surface of the blade of grass. [5]
- It may be necessary to collect them if you belong to a homeowners association that has specific requirements about fall cleaning.
- If you decide to collect them, don't try to complete an entire season's leaf collection in one day. Plan to clean the leaves for several days during the fall.[6]
3
Rake the pine needles first. You should separate the fallen foliage of the pine tree from the fallen leaves of the deciduous trees. Pine needles are acidic, and some plants love acidic soil and others don't. Therefore, it is beneficial to separate the pine needles to use as a separate mulch. [7]
- Rake them as soon as you notice them on the ground, since they tend to fall before the leaves.
- Put them in garbage bags and store them in a dry place. Use them when you need acid mulch.
4
Decide whether you want to rake the wet or dry leaves. Wet leaves will make a more stable pile, but they are also more difficult to rake. [8] Choose dry leaves if you want to use a leaf vacuum, as wet leaves will clog the vacuum. [9] Don't rake damp leaves if you have any allergies, as the mold and mildew they contain can cause sinus discomfort.
5
Pick up the branches. You can do it before or during the cleaning of sheets. Collect the branches from your garden and place them aside in a pile. Consider keeping the pile there as a refuge for birds, squirrels, and other wildlife. You can also reserve the branches to use as firewood. [10]
- If you want to move the pile of branches to another part of the garden, use a wheelbarrow or a yard waste container.
Method 2 Collect the leaves
1
Rake the leaves. Raking is ideal if you have a small lawn or garden. [11] Use a quality rake , preferably with a soft grip. Rakes larger than 36 inches (90 cm) require more force, so choose one with a standard 24 inches (60 cm) width. You can opt for an ergonomic rake with a curved handle.[12]Do not go back. Work across the lawn in a zigzag. [13]
- With each line you rake, move the leaves to the area where there are leaves that you have not yet raked. Every time you create a leaf ridge, push it a few feet into the unraked area. Repeat until the pile is 2 feet (60 cm) high or becomes difficult to move.
- You can buy ergonomic handles separately and attach them to your rakes by screwing them on. If you do it with two rakes, you can rake the leaves with both arms and without bending over. [14]
2
Transfer the leaves with a tarp or bag. Use a sheet, tarp, or tablecloth to carry large piles of leaves. Place the four corners of the canvas and move the pile of leaves by dragging the canvas. You can use this method in conjunction with or as a replacement for leaf bags.
- A 2.4 x 2.4 m (8 x 8 ft) tarp is ideal for this purpose.
- You can buy bags of seasonal leaves like the large pumpkin lantern face bags to decorate the garden while getting the leaves out of the way.
3
Trim grass and leaves. This is a good option if you have a large lawn. Use the mower with a grass catcher to collect the cut leaves. [16] Raise the mower deck to the second highest position before mowing.[17]
- If the leaves are wet, use the mower's side discharge mode for the first pass to loosen and lift the leaves. Then switch to shredding or bagging mode and run the pruner over the leaves again.
4
Use a blower or leaf vacuum. Consider using a leaf blower, especially if you have a large yard with lots of trees. [18] Blowing the leaves is very useful if you live next to a forest, since you can blow them towards the forest floor.[19]You can use the blower with a vacuum attachment or just a leaf vacuum. Portable leaf vacuum cleaners are useful for small areas or gardens.
- If you're buying a leaf blower or vacuum, look for one with the shredding feature. Consider the reduction ratio. For example, if the product offers a reduction ratio of 10: 1, it will convert 10 bags of uncut leaves to 1 bag of shredded leaves.
- Be aware that the leaf blower is noisy. In addition, the most efficient one runs on gasoline, which uses fossil fuels that contribute to air pollution. [twenty-one]
5
Hire a professional. If you decide to hire a professional to clean the sheets, you will have to pay for each job, several times per season. [22] If you don't have time to do sheet cleaning, this might be a good option for you. Another alternative is to rent a wheeled leaf blower like the one the pros use for $ 50 a day.[2. 3]
- Most homeowners pay between $ 180 and $ 500, but the cost depends on the size of your lawn. Expect to pay 75 to $ 900. [24]
- Contact a professional and have the measurements of your garden ready, as well as the number of trees in it. Ask if he can give you a quote for cleaning sheets.
Method 3 Discard the leaves
1
Turn them into mulch for your lawn. Optionally, you can first aerate your lawn to make the nutrients penetrate deeper into the soil. [25] Shred the leaves into small pieces (about the size of a dime) with the pruner. It may be necessary to give them several passes with the mower if they are large or the coat is deep. [26] When you do this type of garden cleaning, you will leave the small pieces on the lawn to make their way into the dirt. Leaf mulch suppresses weeds and fertilizes the soil, as well as enriching the soil in spring. [27]
- If you want them to break down fast, you should be able to see half the grass through the shredded leaves.
2
Mulch your growing beds or flower beds. Once you have collected the leaves, you can shred them for use in composting or creating mulch. Put the leaves in a large trash can. Then tear them up with a grass trimmer. [28] You could also use a leaf shredder. [29]
Leaves make an excellent natural mulch because they do not carry black spores into homes and buildings like wood mulch does, which can damage house siding and plants. [30]
3
Compose them. Turn the leaves into "black gold." Compost is an excellent natural fertilizer for your lawn and garden. You should mulch them before putting them in the compost pile if you want them to break down faster. The decomposed leaves will serve to fertilize your garden in spring. [31]
- You can leave the pile of leaves out in the open and add it to the compost pile in spring. [32]
4
Drive them into the ground with a cultivator. Crush the leaves first. Then drive them into the ground with a cultivator. The goal is to provide organic matter and nutrients to feed the lawn in spring. [33]
5
Contact your municipality to find out if they have a fall cleaning policy. If not, find out how to dispose of leaves and other yard waste. Some municipal authorities have specific regulations that you must follow when cleaning the garden. [3. 4]
- You can ask them “Do you have a community recycling program for fall leaves? Is there a municipal composting system with collection on the sidewalk? ”. If a municipal fall cleaning program has not been implemented, ask how to dispose of yard waste in general.
- In some cities, you just bag the leaves and leave them on the curb so a designated person can pick them up on a specific day of the week. In other areas, leaves are swept into the street gutter for leaf pickers to collect by car.
6
Offer them to a neighbor. Trees should look healthy without fungus or other known diseases. Bag the leaves and offer them to neighbors who want to mulch or compost. This will be especially useful for neighbors with cultivation beds or flower beds. [35]
7
Burn the leaves. You can burn them if it is allowed to do so in your area. You may need an outdoor fire permit to dispose of the leaves this way. Some cities require the presence of a member of the fire department for the duration of the fire, while others require you to notify them in advance.
- Check with your local government by contacting their authorities or by searching their website for keywords such as "burn" and "make fire."
8
Make crafts. You can use fall leaves as fun craft projects. There are several ways to preserve the leaves . Then you can use them to make bookmarks, coasters, wall decorations, candle holders, and many other crafts for kids or adults.
Tips
- Choose a windless day to get rid of the leaves to prevent them from spreading throughout the garden.
- If you live with children, they can help rake and dive into leaf piles.
Warnings
- If you don't clean your yard in the fall, you will have additional work in the spring.
- If you plan to burn the leaves when cleaning the yard, you should have a metal screen and a closed container or other fire protection equipment. If you can't contain the fire, the wind could blow burning debris into wooded areas, gardens, or other flammable locations.
- Do not throw the leaves in the trash. They will remain underground in a landfill where they will take a long time to decompose and will be of no use to anyone. [37]
