Make Sure Your Tools Are Sharp
It’s much easier to prune with sharp blades than with dull ones. Sharper pruning tools make cleaner cuts, which heal faster. So, before you set out to clear away dead wood and broken branches this fall, make sure all your pruners, shears, and hedge clippers are sharp, rust-free, and well maintained.
Use a Leaf Blower to Clean Your Gutters
Most leaf blowers can be fitted with a special attachment that will make removing leaves from the gutters much easier and quicker than doing it by hand. Just be sure to clean your gutter before you rake the leaves in the yard—you don’t want to have to rake all over again!
Wear a Tool Belt
Tool belts are not just for the woodshop. Wear yours as you do your fall yard cleanup to keep all your handheld gardening tools close by. Pruning shears, cultivators, and weeding knives fit easily in the pockets, while loppers and hedge clippers can hang in the hammer holder.
Rake into Rows Instead of Piles
If you are bagging leaves, rake them into rows rather than a large pile. You can then separate a manageable portion of leaves from the end of the row to put into each bag.
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