Piles of color now line many sidewalks and yards, and doctors say there could be a potent allergen hiding in the fall foliage. Raking leaves with a shovel is something I had never done until this past spring. 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. Leaving your leaves could save you money: "Leaves are nature's natural mulch and fertilizer," Mizejewski said. Copyright © 2020 WTVD-TV. That is usually not the case, unless you have a bed of leaves covered by mounds of snow all winter. Knowing some handy tricks can make … By switching your lead arm frequently you can help alleviate this problem. Furthermore, you also need to consider the overall quantity of leaves you anticipate falling in your yard throughout the season. Mold can trigger troublesome symptoms for the allergic. Posture: It is critical to maintain proper posture when raking leaves. Will it rain on Christmas? Most people rake their lawns because they were taught that a covering of leaves will suffocate it. 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. You can do this with a mulching mower, shredder or leaf blower on the vacuum setting. But for allergy sufferers, raking presents its own problem. You can never get them all and god help you if there are bushes and shit you have to clean out too. However, Waltz is not a fan … We started out using our hands, then it dawned on us how long it was going to take doing it that way. Aside from some … For instance, large yards with a lot of deciduous trees (trees that drop their leaves) pose a bigger cleanup challenge than other yards. All Rights Reserved. Mold can trigger troublesome symptoms for the allergic. If the leaves are large and not too numerous, you can use a leaf blower to move them to the side. 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. 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. Your inhale those contaminates in through your nose. So yes, it’s OK to leave the leaves. 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. 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. 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. It's ignorant. 3. Improper stance and posture can be damaging to your body, especially your back. 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. ... 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. Hold the rake slightly toward the end of the handle with one hand. Purdue University consumer horticulture specialist Rosie Lerner says that composting leaves is the most eco-friendly alternative to burning. Reducing exposure to spores is the best way to avoid symptoms. The tree takes nutrients from the soil and makes leaves. So why in God’s green earth would you want to add to the misery by spending your weekends raking leaves? Bags of leaves often end up in landfills. It also can be strenuous work. The scraping and raking of leaves stirs up dirt, dust, mold, and pollen into the air. The safe way to rake leaves is to let your arms and legs do the work. I mow that shit several times into a fine mulch. ... and had only traveled to the vacation home to “rake leaves.” No … Just look at nature. Consider purchasing a rake with a design especially for removing wet leaves if you must rake a large amount from your yard. "Raking leaves and leaves coming down releases all of that in the outside environment," Ginn explained. Discussing the benefits of leaf mold for gardens and cultivating plants can help kids understand nature’s regeneration cycle. Having the right gear and the right form can help you avoid physical problems associated with raking. Trees across the Triangle are showing the first signs of fall as leaves begin changing from green to brown. Then you remove the leaves and they don't have a chance to return there nutrients to the soil. The easiest way to avoid injuring yourself while raking leaves is to make sure you warm-up before you start. Raking leaves off the grass at the right time is critical to doing the job correctly. Fallen Leaves Make Good Compost . While you are raking leaves, most people stand stationary and just use their arms. … Position the other hand three- quarters of the way down the handle. Raking is a repetitive motion that can exhaust your muscles. All Rights Reserved. Rake wet leaves carefully to avoid slipping and falling. Do not twist your body, or sweep to the … Raking leaves can be used to introduce them to environmental science. • Mow them a few times to make the pieces really small. 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. Often, raking is enough to clear the soil, but you may also have to pull or dig up stubborn roots. I helped my friend rake leaves (and they weren't raked before the snow flew) so it was a mess. Raking leaves is for noobs. The dirt, dust, mold, and pollen triggers allergy and asthma symptoms like swelling of nasal membranes. Piles of color now line many sidewalks and yards, and doctors say there could be a potent allergen hiding in the fall foliage. "Raking leaves and leaves coming down releases all of that in the outside environment," Ginn explained. "When you rake all the leaves away, … Pace yourself. You can remove lawn thatch at the same time by using the proper method. 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 can stir agitating pollen and mold into the air, causing allergy and asthma symptoms. Raking leaves is a great way to get outside and do some light exercise. Raking leaves is an activity that takes time and energy. However, it can also mean tired, aching muscles or even a back injury that could put you out of commission for days. It's good for the lawn. Then you have a chance of growing snow mold, which is a pink or gray fungal disease that can attack your grass. This will reduce the risk of back pain that … 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. She lives on a corner lot so it took us 2.5 hours. * Pesky Leaves - Some folks might find it difficult to keep up with raking leaves throughout the autumn. 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. Avoid injuring yourself by stretching first. If this doesn’t make you sick, I don’t know what will. For instance, the type of rake you use can make things easier and not tear up the lawn. Wrong. Wait for the full fall: Before you reach for your rake, wait for the full fall of leaves. Raking leaves for money is a BAD idea, IMO. Because that’s what you’re supposed to do, right? The leaves fall and normally would return to the soil. “Thank you for your great question +jshelt22! 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. I live on a postage stamp sized piece of land and I am still raking leaves about 5 times in the fall and I … However, by employing a few techniques, the work doesn’t have to be that difficult and it might even be fun. • Wet down the leaves when you rake them into your garden—or put them all in a pile and cover with a tarp. Here are a few tips that can make raking leaves into a workout you can be proud of. Reduce your workload by raking the leaves onto a large tarp. “If you just leave your leaves on the grass, those leaves hold moisture and facilitate the likelihood of disease," he says. Bagging large piles of leaves is a time-consuming task. Using proper body mechanics when raking, as well as performing other chores around the house, can greatly reduce back pain, strain and other injuries. From an early age, our fathers showed us that keeping the lawn perfectly manicured is just one of the burdens of being a man. Do not decide that you are going to go out and handle a large accumulation of leaves in one shot. Common symptoms include itchy… “Raking leaves is considered moderate physical activity, similar to a brisk walk”, according to Barbara Ainsworth, an exercise epidemiologist at San Diego State University. Instead, move your legs. Yeah, man, this is the beginning to some rather dark days. Here’s what can happen when a person who is prone to sinusitis dutifully rakes up those leaves. Copyright © 2020 WTVD-TV. While you can sometimes wait for the leaves to dry, you may have to remove them from your landscape. SAN FRANCISCO -- Trees across the country are showing the first signs of fall as leaves begin changing from green to brown. 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. “Don’t rake vigorously and deep. Your stance should be grounded with your feet wide apart. 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. Three- quarters of the handle sufferers, raking presents its can raking leaves make you sick problem especially your back do n't have a to., especially your back into the air your back to get outside and some! A pile and cover with a tarp their lawns because they were raked! 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