The fall and winter months bring on extra yard maintenance. Here are some helpful tips and tricks to work smarter, not harder to remove leaves and snow.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
With fall, come leaves, and there are lots of ways to gather leaves. But you need to work smarter, not harder. Save yourself the trouble — and labor — and use the right tools for the job.
For instance, use a shovel with a dual purpose: for the fall season, it is great to use for help raking leaves.
You can get a heaping of leaves in one scoop. Then, when those snowy months come, you can use it to clear your driveway or walkway.
Why rake leaves when you can blow them? Use a leaf blower, but take it easy, or you could blow topsoil off your lawn.
Want to work smarter, not harder, when bagging leaves? Makeshift “pop-up” garden bags come in handy — just take a collapsible mesh or nylon hamper and line it with a trash bag.
Finally, you’ll need these essential tools: a wheelbarrow and some pruners and loppers for those hard-to-reach areas, so you don’t have to get up on a ladder.
And don’t forget gloves! Or you can expect some blisters.
In the Winter Months
If you’re in an area where you’ll face a lot of snow and ice, you’ll need some kind of de-icer.
You can use salt, but there are more environmentally friendly options out there. Just ask your local home center for products available in your area.
Whatever you do, work smarter, not harder. Don’t wait for the snow to hit before you purchase something for de-icing. It sells out quick, and you don’t want to wait in long lines or get stuck on a waiting list!
Next, remember that shovel we used to pick up leaves? Well, you can use that as your snow shovel as well. It will help you clear your driveway or walkway.
In addition, get a roof rake and a sidewalk scraper, because you can bet that those will need regular maintenance as well.
For your car, again, work smarter, not harder. It’s always good to have the right tool for the job — so you’ll need an ice scraper for windows. Makes removing that ice a breeze! And if you don’t have snow tires, you’ll need some snow chains.
Finally, power outages are inevitable in some areas. You’ll need a generator to stay comfortable throughout them.
