Autumn has been beautiful in Pine Plains this year, with unforgettably colorful woodlands. Now that trees have lost their foliage, gardeners are starting their fall cleanups. Lawns can be suffocated by a thick covering of dead leaves, so raking is a necessity. If you’re lucky enough to have only a light covering of leaves on your lawn, shredding them with a mulching blade on your mower works well. This type of mulch left on the grass creates nitrogen and friendly microbes to fertilize the soil, which helps your lawn health. For those of us that must rake the yard, the good news is that it’s excellent aerobic exercise and being outside on a brisk autumn day is great for our mental health.
I’ll discuss raking tips below, but first two important health-related caveats: remember that leaves are dusty and moldy. If you are one of the 15% of Americans who have allergies, you may need to take a plain antihistamine a half hour before raking. Some physicians prefer that patients with severe allergies or asthma avoid all yard work. If you are unsure, contact your primary care provider.
It is important to be physically fit prior to raking your yard. Strenuous out door activities put you at risk for back, shoulder, neck, and wrist injuries if you’re out of shape. Just think about how much twisting, lifting, and bending is involved. To prevent muscle and back injury, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends 10 minutes of warm up stretches before AND after raking. (Checkout orthoinfo.aaos.org). A sudden increase in strenuous exercise also can put you at risk for a heart attack. Stay fit throughout the year and have regular checkups with your primary provider.
- Make sure the leaves are dry. Wait at least 24 hours after a rain before you start raking.
- Wear long sleeves and pants to protect you from dust and debris.
- Gloves will protect you from blisters and scratches, so wear them.
- Make sure your shoes are sturdy and don’t have slippery soles.
- The best rake has a thirty inch spread and is labeled “clog proof”. It shouldn’t be too short or heavy. They’re generally made from plastic and not metal.
- Make sure you keep your back as straight as possible when you’re raking and use short strokes to rake.
- Keep switching sides when you’re raking, alternating which arm leads. Take one step directly forward and rake only what’s in front of you.
- Make piles of leaves small enough to handle easily.
- Let the Pine Plains breezes help you by raking in the direction of the wind.
- Your legs must do the work when lifting, not your back. Don’t be afraid to squat.
- Go slow and take breaks, enjoy the good workout, and have water available to drink. You don’t have to do it all in one day.
- If you have a lot of leaves, it’s easiest to rake them onto a large tarp to drag and spread this wonderful mulch around trees and garden beds. If you must use leaf bags, you can roll the tarp up and use it to funnel the leaves into each bag.