Once your lawn stops growing and needing mowing in the fall season it’s important that you rake any leaves you haven’t mulched yet. If you don’t remove the leaves they will trap moisture and block the sunlight, preventing a healthy new lawn from emerging in the spring. The problem is, raking is a time-consuming and back-breaking task. The answer to this dilemma is a lawn sweeper.
A manual push lawn sweeper resembles an old-fashioned man-powered push mower except that the blades are replaced with brushes and there is a catcher attached for the debris it collects. As the sweeper is pushed along the grass, the brushes rotate and remove grass clippings, leaves and twigs, leaving you with a clean and debris-free lawn. These quiet, environmentally friendly push sweepers are a nice alternative to a traditional rake but if you’re looking for something even faster you can try a sweeper attachment used with a tractor or lawn mower.
Towing a sweeper around the yard to pick up debris is an efficient way to clean up a large yard or commercial property. Just remember that these sweepers are not as effective on wet leaves as they are with dry leaves and debris. Lawn sweepers may also be used to clean off a walkway or driveway after a light snow for greater versatility.
The best way to get rid of the collected debris after using a lawn sweeper is to compost the material. Leaf mold and other compost is an excellent resource for fertilizing new plantings in the spring. If you mulch the leaves before adding them to the compost pile they will break down faster. Remember to turn the compost pile at least once a month to help it break down evenly. Regularly using a lawn sweeper can help you keep your lawn looking lush and beautiful all year round.