Fallen Leaves Make Good Compost . Then you have a chance of growing snow mold, which is a pink or gray fungal disease that can attack your grass. Yeah, man, this is the beginning to some rather dark days. Raking leaves is an activity that takes time and energy. Raking leaves for money is a BAD idea, IMO. Purdue University consumer horticulture specialist Rosie Lerner says that composting leaves is the most eco-friendly alternative to burning. While you can sometimes wait for the leaves to dry, you may have to remove them from your landscape. If this doesn’t make you sick, I don’t know what will. Do not twist your body, or sweep to the … So yes, it’s OK to leave the leaves. Raking is a repetitive motion that can exhaust your muscles. That is usually not the case, unless you have a bed of leaves covered by mounds of snow all winter. Hold the rake slightly toward the end of the handle with one hand. However, it can also mean tired, aching muscles or even a back injury that could put you out of commission for days. For instance, large yards with a lot of deciduous trees (trees that drop their leaves) pose a bigger cleanup challenge than other yards. • Wet down the leaves when you rake them into your garden—or put them all in a pile and cover with a tarp. Copyright © 2020 WTVD-TV. I helped my friend rake leaves (and they weren't raked before the snow flew) so it was a mess. It can stir agitating pollen and mold into the air, causing allergy and asthma symptoms. While you are raking leaves, most people stand stationary and just use their arms. Do not decide that you are going to go out and handle a large accumulation of leaves in one shot. Consider purchasing a rake with a design especially for removing wet leaves if you must rake a large amount from your yard. SAN FRANCISCO -- Trees across the country are showing the first signs of fall as leaves begin changing from green to brown. Common symptoms include itchy… Bay Area weather forecast looks wet, These 13 people defined the Bay Area in 2020, Smaller crowds this year for last dash of holiday shopping. Piles of color now line many sidewalks and yards, and doctors say there could be a potent allergen hiding in the fall foliage. The Simplest Strategy for Raking Leaves Sure, raking leaves is a chore, but it will be less taxing if you learn how to do it efficiently and safely—and try to have some fun while you're at it. From an early age, our fathers showed us that keeping the lawn perfectly manicured is just one of the burdens of being a man. Now that you have overseeded in the fall, you will want to do something with the leaves depending on the type of leaves and the amount that have fallen. Raking the leaves might keep your lawn healthy and neat, but it can create environmental issues, depending on what you do with those raked leaves. Avoid injuring yourself by stretching first. The leaves fall and normally would return to the soil. If the leaves are large and not too numerous, you can use a leaf blower to move them to the side. Raking leaves is for noobs. Posture: It is critical to maintain proper posture when raking leaves. "When you rake all the leaves away, … The tree takes nutrients from the soil and makes leaves. This is perhaps the most important thing to do when raking leaves, as with the wrong rake, no matter how careful or diligent you are, there’s a chance you won’t be able to get the job gone or, worse yet, do your lawn harm. All Rights Reserved. Warm up before starting raking the leaves: take a walk around the yard, effectuate circular movements of your arms and torso and some gentle stretches of the body. It also can be strenuous work. Improper stance and posture can be damaging to your body, especially your back. Position the other hand three- quarters of the way down the handle. It's ignorant. Bagging large piles of leaves is a time-consuming task. She lives on a corner lot so it took us 2.5 hours. Making leaf mold needs a bit of space to turn it into compost, but the magic can be done in a leaf bin or in black trash bags. Then you remove the leaves and they don't have a chance to return there nutrients to the soil. Dry leaves alone will take a long time to break down, she says, but mixing in green plant materials, such as grass trimmings, will speed up the process. Leaving your leaves could save you money: "Leaves are nature's natural mulch and fertilizer," Mizejewski said. Bags of leaves often end up in landfills. Often, raking is enough to clear the soil, but you may also have to pull or dig up stubborn roots. Aside from some … Copyright © 2020 WTVD-TV. However, Waltz is not a fan … I live on a postage stamp sized piece of land and I am still raking leaves about 5 times in the fall and I … 3. Raking leaves off the grass at the right time is critical to doing the job correctly. “If you just leave your leaves on the grass, those leaves hold moisture and facilitate the likelihood of disease," he says. The dirt, dust, mold, and pollen triggers allergy and asthma symptoms like swelling of nasal membranes. Knowing some handy tricks can make … At least 1 dead in crash on I-40 near airport, Memo prompts confusion over legality of to-go cocktails in NC, Attorney says he's suing Raleigh HOA over Christmas cross debacle, FORECAST: Severe weather possible on Christmas Eve, WCPSS teacher brings cheer to students by dressing as Elf on the Shelf, Small businesses prepare for late Christmas shopping push, LATEST: NC reaches new record COVID-19 hospitalizations, Trump threatens COVID-19 relief over stimulus check amount, Cumberland officials worry about post-Christmas COVID-19 surge, Chapel Hill man, 88, found dead after wife wakes up to him missing, COVID-19 reaches Antarctica, last untouched continent, Durham Rescue Mission gives back at end of rough year for many. We started out using our hands, then it dawned on us how long it was going to take doing it that way. When dealing with leaves you want to select a lawn or leaf rake, making sure its head has a good spread of tines that are angled so that they won’t damage your lawn. • Mow them a few times to make the pieces really small. Discussing the benefits of leaf mold for gardens and cultivating plants can help kids understand nature’s regeneration cycle. The safe way to rake leaves is to let your arms and legs do the work. Pace yourself. Rake wet leaves carefully to avoid slipping and falling. But for allergy sufferers, raking presents its own problem. “Don’t rake vigorously and deep. Will it rain on Christmas? Mold can trigger troublesome symptoms for the allergic. Here’s what can happen when a person who is prone to sinusitis dutifully rakes up those leaves. Most people rake their lawns because they were taught that a covering of leaves will suffocate it. So why in God’s green earth would you want to add to the misery by spending your weekends raking leaves? This will reduce the risk of back pain that … * Pesky Leaves - Some folks might find it difficult to keep up with raking leaves throughout the autumn. Raking leaves with a shovel is something I had never done until this past spring. All Rights Reserved. Just look at nature. Wait for the full fall: Before you reach for your rake, wait for the full fall of leaves. Here are a few tips that can make raking leaves into a workout you can be proud of. Chart Your Fitness Progress. COVID-19 updates: Coronavirus 3rd leading cause of death in Santa Clara Co. Pfizer to supply 100 million more COVID-19 vaccine doses to the US, LIST: Best drive-by holiday light displays in Bay Area, Nationwide nursing shortage hits CA, Bay Area hospitals, COVID-19 reaches Antarctica, last untouched continent, Bay Area guide to takeout, delivery holiday dinners, Find out how many people may get a COVID-19 vaccine before you, Only 1 CA region not under stay-at-home order, COVID-19 holiday risk: The safest and most dangerous activities, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7. Raking leaves can be used to introduce them to environmental science. For instance, the type of rake you use can make things easier and not tear up the lawn. Instead, move your legs. The scraping and raking of leaves stirs up dirt, dust, mold, and pollen into the air. Wrong. … Having the right gear and the right form can help you avoid physical problems associated with raking. The easiest way to avoid injuring yourself while raking leaves is to make sure you warm-up before you start. Mold can trigger troublesome symptoms for the allergic. “Raking leaves is considered moderate physical activity, similar to a brisk walk”, according to Barbara Ainsworth, an exercise epidemiologist at San Diego State University. In that case, you might have to rake a little every day or two just to make sure you don't fall behind on leaf removal. It's good for the lawn. By switching your lead arm frequently you can help alleviate this problem. However, by employing a few techniques, the work doesn’t have to be that difficult and it might even be fun. Raking leaves is a great way to get outside and do some light exercise. Piles of color now line many sidewalks and yards, and doctors say there could be a potent allergen hiding in the fall foliage. Rake your leaves (and how not to strain your back) If you do decide to rake all your lawn or just a portion of it, there are best practices to follow. Furthermore, you also need to consider the overall quantity of leaves you anticipate falling in your yard throughout the season. "Raking leaves and leaves coming down releases all of that in the outside environment," Ginn explained. You can do this with a mulching mower, shredder or leaf blower on the vacuum setting. You can remove lawn thatch at the same time by using the proper method. Trees across the Triangle are showing the first signs of fall as leaves begin changing from green to brown. I mow that shit several times into a fine mulch. “Thank you for your great question +jshelt22! Because that’s what you’re supposed to do, right? Here are a few elements that you should consider to avoid getting injured or sick: Wear several layers of clothing that you can take off or put back on to avoid getting overheated or too cold. Your stance should be grounded with your feet wide apart. Environmental experts say raking leaves and removing them from your property is bad not only for your lawn but for the planet as a whole. Reducing exposure to spores is the best way to avoid symptoms. ... You can be sure that the coverage of this act by the corrupt news media will be indefensible as well, and there will be no price to be paid for that. Using proper body mechanics when raking, as well as performing other chores around the house, can greatly reduce back pain, strain and other injuries. "Raking leaves and leaves coming down releases all of that in the outside environment," Ginn explained. You can never get them all and god help you if there are bushes and shit you have to clean out too. Reduce your workload by raking the leaves onto a large tarp. ... and had only traveled to the vacation home to “rake leaves.” No … Your inhale those contaminates in through your nose. Large amount from your landscape or dig up stubborn roots injuring yourself while raking with! 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