We may still be in the height of summer, but it won’t be long before autumn is upon us and that yearly headache of fallen leaves is back. But there is no need to worry as our handy guide on how to prepare for this mess and what to do when it happens will keep you sane.

The array of red, golden-yellow and brown leaves that will cover the landscape creates a picturesque setting, but can become overwhelming for the everyday gardener. Here are 3 ways to help ease the burden this autumn:

1. Design a leaf-eating landscape: Creating beds near deciduous trees that can be filled with plants that enjoy being in deep, natural mulch will provide you with a much needed area to hide fallen leaves. You can continuously add to these zones by running a mower over leaves on the ground and raking them into the beds. The chopped up leaves will provide nutrients for the plants and if you make the beds deep enough, then the leaves won’t be able to blow away.
    
2. Deal with pines: If you have pine trees in your garden, it is recommended to rake the needles as soon as they fall, before they get mixed with leaves, which usually fall down later. This is because pine needles are acidic, and there are certain plants that like acidic soil – and others that don’t. Therefore, if you are thinking about using leaves for mulch, it is beneficial to deal with pine needles first. You can do this by packing them into garbage bags and keeping them in a dry place until you need some acidic mulch.
    
3. Rake smartly: When it comes to actually raking up the leaves in the garden it is best to do so wisely. For example, avoid raking during very windy conditions, and if you find yourself having to do so, rake with the gusts rather than against them. Also, when you decide to collect them, don’t try to do a whole season of leaf clearing in one session. When raking, work from one side of the lawn to the other in order to avoid retracing your steps.
    

With these handy tips you can now enjoy the autumn months, rather than experiencing post summer blues.