I have a decent size backyard and after years of raking - I finally figured out how to rake more effectively.
Don’t be the first person on the block to start raking. People have a tendency to start raking way too early. If you are the first, other neighbor’s leaves are going to just blow into your yard, and most likely you failed to look up and see a lot more leaves on the trees.
Only start raking after there has been a good wind or rain storm. I always wait until after a good wind storm or rain before I start raking - this ensures that most the leaves are off the trees and the rain helps the leaves stay in place after you rake them to the street (assuming you do not bag leaves and rather the city picks up piles you create in front of your house). I have laughed many a times at my neighbors who rake on a nice sunny day then wake up the next morning only to find their piles back in their yards. Nice fall weather is for golfing, not raking.
Use one of the large garbage cans with wheels … [more]
