Autumn has always presented the striking transition from one season to the next, feeling us with wonder and causing us to meditate on the cycles in nature. During this celebrated season of ‘Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness’, don’t forget to really sit back and enjoy those colours and soak in those last few rays.

Nevertheless, once those leaves are falling and the wintry wind and rain seem imminent – it’s time to get up from that garden chair and do some yard work!

That’s right! As we get past Back-to-School season, there’s yard work to do. Best to stay on top of these Autumn leaves before they start destroying the view and other things!

When To Start Clearing Fallen Leaves

Don’t be in too much of a hurry to clear the fallen leaves – As you’ll find it a Sisyphean task.

Storm debris aside, aim to clear up the accumulated leaf fall in the later end of autumn or early winter. This allows you to accumulate a reasonable amount and  remove the leaves before they become compacted on the ground and too soggy, mouldy or difficult to handle.

Choose the right day – Wait for a dry and  not so windy day. Wet leaves are harder to manage.

If you have a large garden or property or are just concerned about disease infecting the prized plants , you may need to clear leaves throughout the autumn season at regular intervals once there is a decent accumulation to work with. Make the job less overwhelming in a larger property with regular clear ups.

Why Clear Fallen Autumn Leaves?

It’s not just about being tidy and masochistic. There are some sound reasons for removing those dead fallen leaves.

Protect Your Garden Health:

• Disease prevention: Leaves, if left to rot, will get mouldy and harbour fungal diseases that can infect plants, especially during the famously damp wet weather we get here in Ireland.
• Nutrient retention: If left to decompose in place, leaves can tie up nutrients in the soil, making them less available to plants. This is a process called immobilisation that occurs when other microorganisms use the nutrients released during decomposition to grow and reproduce.
• Prevent Pests from Settling in : A pile of leaf litter can be the perfect breeding ground and cover for incubating and harbouring pests over winter
• Garden aesthetics and safety: If you’ re entertaining outdoors or have children playing often in the backyard garden, it is best to clear leaves when they accumulate and the weather gets damp.  Leaves become slippery when wet, increasing the risk of falls.
• Lawn health: Leaves can smother lawn grass if left lying there indefinitely, leading to brown patches and disease as your grass gets less and less access to sunlight and air. It is also necessary to promote healthy lawn growth in the spring.

Step 1 – Gather Your Tools for the Autumn Tidy-Up

Ready to get started this Autumn?

Head down to your local Homevalue store if you need advice and a wider range of options on these suggestions. You will need some basic kit such as a:

A Leaf Rake:

Choose a flexible, wide-headed rake that works well on grass, gravel, or concrete. Here are some ideas

• Start with The True Temper Steel Leaf Rake 24T Flat Tines Long Wood Handle – designed for gathering leaves and grass cuttings and general purpose maintenance in a garden environment when engaging in some manual leaf cleaning in a smaller garden. It has a strong flat steel flexible head consisting of 24 tines and a long solid Larch wood handle with a 32mm diameter.

  

  Consider a Leaf Blower or Vacuum

  If you have a larger garden, an electric or battery-powered blower will give you even more flexibility and help you speed up the process. Many blowers will also have vacuum options to collect leaves as you go so you are not merely dispersing them to other parts of your lawn or bedding.

  Einhell has a full range of Leaf Blowers to suit many levels viewable in our Catalogue

  Here are some examples from the range :

  Start with the Einhell Power X-Change 18V Cordless Leaf Blower which is equipped with a brushless motor and a turbo switch. It also features an electronic speed control system equipped with a multi-step LED. There is a Battery and charger accessory which is supplied separately.

  

  • The top of the range Einhell Power X-Change 18V Cordless Leaf Blower & Vac will quickly and easily blow away leaves from your lawn and shred the leaves when in vacuum mode. Includes a 45 liter leaf collecting bag, an additional handle, two large wheels, carrying strap and wall mount. There is a Battery and charger accessory that is also supplied separately.

    

    Handheld Scoops or Leaf Claws

    These are handy for quickly picking up large piles of leaves.

    Standard Gardening Gloves

    You will need to protect your hands from sharp twigs or damp leaves while working, especially if there are fallen branches with thorns or insects that may bite.

    Apart from the average lightweight or fabric gardening gloves , there are more specialist options that can be us

    • The MaxiDry Fully Coated Glove is a lightweight liquid repellent glove with excellent dexterity for use in wet or oily environments. It is flexible and durable with excellent abrasion resistance. The MaxiDry textile is also certified skin safe by the Skin Health Alliance and can be washed at 40°C.

      

      Garden Bags or Portable Bins

      It is best to use biodegradable  or compostable leaf bags or large reusable bins for leaf collection and transport. You can also get some handy portable lightweight bings for transporting leaves to your compost pile or compost bin.

      Our Hero Extra Strong Eco Black Bin Bags are a sustainable option that come in a 50 Pack. These black heavy duty refuse sacks are made from plastic that has been recycled from landfill. With 100L of capacity, these eco bags will make light work of any rubbish disposal job inside or outside of your home.
      
      
      

       

      • The Garden Collection Black Flexi Tub 40L is a highly durable flexi bucket that offers frost and UV protection outer to ensure its performance is not compromised no matter what the weather conditions. Pick it up in a range of bright colours!  This hard wearing multi purpose tub is perfect for use on construction sites, yards, gardens, farms and other similar environments and can be easily carried with the attached handles. It would also be a handy laundry basket for wet clothes.

      

      Step 2 Rake Leaves Into Piles

      • Work in Sections: Start in one corner of your garden and rake leaves toward a central pile. Working in logical rows to help you cover more ground efficiently.
      • Use the Wind: If it’s a windy day, rake with the wind to avoid fighting against it – so choose the direction and location of your pile wisely
      • Target Different Surfaces: Use a light rake on lawns to avoid damaging grass, and a sturdier rake on hard surfaces like patios or driveways. You will need a hardier rake for gravelled or tarmacked areas and a rake with softer flexible teeth for delicate lawn or bedding plants

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      Step 3 –  Remove Leaves from Hard-to-Reach Areas

      • Use Leaf Blowers in a bigger property to save time or  Blow leaves out from tight spots such as corners, under bushes, or between rocks.
      • Use Manual Methods if you have a smaller space: If using a rake is not possible, you will have to crouch down and try handheld tools or gloves to manually remove leaves from flower beds, around trees, or in delicate garden areas and corners .

       

      Step 4: Bag or Collect the Leaves

      • When Bagging leaves, try to use more recycled or biodegradable leaf bags for eco-friendly disposal or large reusable bags to transport leaves.
      • Use a Tarp for Easy Transport if clearing up larger areas. Just rake leaves onto a tarp and drag them to a collection spot or compost pile

       

      Step 5  – Reuse Your Leaves or Dispose Sustainably

      • Mulching with Leaves – Give your garden a natural Boost! Irish soil and weather conditions make mulching especially beneficial. Just shred the leaves with a lawn mower or mulcher and spread them around flower beds, tree bases or garden beds to help retain moisture and suppress weeds during the harsh winter months.
      • Turn Waste into Garden Gold with Composting: Add the collected leaves to your compost pile. Mix with green garden waste for a balanced compost.
      • Check On your Community – Did you know some towns and gardening clubs in Ireland offer communal composting programs? Look out for local allotments or any nearby residential gardening community or even contact a local sustainability initiative. They might be interested in your leaves for mulching or composting
      • Ask about Local Green Waste Recycling: If you have too many leaves and general gardening debris that has been cleared up from the Post summer clean up , consider using local green waste disposal services or recycling centers that accept garden debris. Ask your Local City Council about the green waste recycling centres. When bringing your waste you must bag all green waste and ensure it is residential and not commercial green waste.  You will need to pay for each bag of green waste presented at the bring centre.

       

      Ready to Rake, Mulch, and Marvel at your Work?

      So it’s not that complicated really! Once you have set aside a few hours and have the right kit – it can be a very pleasurable and  happy calorie – burning endeavor to get cracking at that garden tidy up.

      Think of it as an opportunity as a great Zen moment for meditating on nature’s largesse and the passing of time whilst giving your home the tender loving care it needs.

      Besides, you’ll be thankful for that tidy garden when the guests start to come in during Party season this winter!