How to Bag Fall Leaves with a Mower

It’s that time of year again, the beautiful fall foliage has settled in. And, if your yard is anything like mine, there are leaves everywhere. Like EVERYWHERE. So it begs the questions, when’s the best time to start dealing with those leaves and fall cleanup? How to do it quickly without breaking your back and if you use a mower, what is the perfect mower height for capturing the leaves so they don’t all blow away? Below are some of our learnings and quick tips to get you squared. Check them out!

1. When’s the best time to start fall cleanup?
   1. I typically start late October/early November.
2. How do I cleanup the leaves without breaking my back with a rake?
   1. First, I blow out the beds onto the lawn trying to concentrate them into one area. I put on the mower bag and then use the mower to bag up the leaves. The less the leaves have to be handled the better. I’ve found this method to be the easiest dealing with leaves (shout below if you’ve got a better technique) and its healthy for the lawn to continue to be mowed before the first snowfall of the season.
3. What’s the best mower height for mulching leaves?
   1. The best mower height for mulching leaves is 3 inches. With that said, the right height can vary from 2 to 4 inches, depending on the height of your grass, your previous mow height and the type of grass. To start, you can use the highest setting on your mower and work your way down after observing your results.

Equipment List (nothing fancy here folks):

1. Troy Bilt TB-210
2. Remington RM 125
3. Standard rake from the local hardware store
4. Costco Lawn & Leaf Bag 2 Ply Heavy Duty Bags (30 ct). These types of paper bags can be also found at local hardware stores, Menards, some supermarkets, etc.