Tarp It Up
A tarp is the simplest solution to those fallen leaf woes, according to a video from Today’s Homeowner. With just a few tweaks, you can create a tool that will help you for many autumns to come.
In addition to a small tarp measuring about 4 by 8 feet, you’ll need a pair of 4-foot-long wooden dowels, a staple gun, and a standard rake.
Start by laying the tarp on the grass and folding it in half. This makes it easier to handle and provides ample structural support under the weight of the leaves. Next, place a dowel at each end of the tarp, roll the ends up and over the dowels, and use a staple gun to affix the tarp to the dowels. This essentially creates two sturdy handles for moving the tarp later.
Once the handled tarp is assembled, simply rake the fallen leaves in your yard onto it. Then grab the handles at both ends and bring them together to form a bag for carrying the leaves. Pour the leaves into a yard waste bin out of one of the tarp’s open ends, the way you’d empty a bag of chips into a bowl.
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If you don’t have access to dowels or a staple gun, the tarp can still be useful as is. While it’s not as easy to maneuver, you can gather all four corners of the tarp, like a bindle. Or you can enlist a friend to help: Each person grabs two corners at either end and together you carry it to the trash.
Repeat the process as many times as necessary until your yard is clear. Odds are it’ll take fewer trips and less time than carrying the leaves to the trash in a small bucket or by hand. This tarp method is also tidier and more effective than raking leaves into a tilted garbage can.
