How To Rake Without The Ache
Happy Halloween, everyone! It's definitely that time of year. The air is crisp, the freshly carved pumpkins are waiting to light up the Halloween night, and yes, you guessed it, the leaves are beginning to blanket the ground. If you're lucky enough to have large, mature trees around your house (or unlucky, if you're not a fan of raking!), raking leaves is a seasonal activity most people participate in (unless you have a professional gardener who tends to it, that is!).
While a single leaf barely weighs a few grams, THOUSANDS of leaves definitely ramp up the task of raking and disposing of them. Just like shoveling snow in the winter, raking leaves in the fall is a motion that our bodies typically don't perform year round. That's why people are usually sore afterwards, or worse, injure themselves. While sweeping or vacuuming the house are similar, they do not involve moving the same amount of weight over a prolonged period of time like raking leaves does.
With all that in mind, here are some tips to help you rake efficiently and safely this fall:
✓ Dress comfortably - Though simple, this basic concept is often overlooked. Raking leaves isn't supposed to be a fall fashion show! Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. Layer appropriately so that when you start working up a sweat (and you will!), you can remove the outer layer. Wear comfortable shoes/boots with good grip so you don't slip.
✓ Wait for a few days without rain - Leaves are light. Thousands of leaves are heavy. Thousands of wet leaves are absurdly heavy. We've all been here before. Wait for a few days of dry weather before starting to rake.
✓ Stretch before you start - Just like any form of physical activity, stretching is a good starting point. Try these ones out:
✓ Use the right tools - This comes down to what you prefer. I've always gone with a plastic leaf rake/wooden handle combo; nothing too complicated. Gardening gloves are a must, especially if it's cold outside!
✓ Maintain good posture - This sounds silly, I know, but it's true. Keep your back neutral and your knees slightly bent. Change which side you hold the rake with every few minutes. Avoid twisting with your low back. Instead, turn your whole body in the direction you're raking.
✓ Make multiple piles - As much fun as it is to jump into one enormous pile of leaves in the middle of the yard, it just doesn't make sense to intentionally drag leaves from all four corners to one pile in the middle. Make as many small/medium piles as necessary so that you're being as efficient as possible.
✓ Take breaks - This isn't a race. Unless, of course, you're competing against your neighbour across the street. But, since that probably isn't the case, take your time. Pace yourself. Take frequent breaks and stay hydrated!
✓ Bag the leaves properly - When it comes time to gather the piles of leaves for disposal, use proper paper yard waste bags. While you can always buy one of those comically large leaf dust pans, if you don't have one, don't fret. I usually use two large pieces of cardboard to collect the leaves and transfer them to the yard waste bags.
Raking can be a fun activity. Get the whole family involved! Enjoy the fall weather!
And once again: Happy Halloween! Have fun and stay safe tonight!
