Anonymous wrote:We have a cherry tree in the front and a maple in the back both around 50 ft and they dump lot of leaves despite the lawn being only 1/4 acre. Every week I'm raking up leaves plus the cherry tree was dropping leaves in the summer for some reason.

Trees shouldn’t be dropping leaves year-round, so have an arborist make sure they’re well. They may have canopy rot or a fungal infection or some other tree malady that’s stressing them out and causing leaf drop. As for seasonal leaf fall, assuming you’re trees don’t have any infections, just mow without a bag and use the leaves as compost. The nitrogen is good for your garden.

Many butterflies and moths leave their larva in the leaves and if you would leave them be, that would be best for many species of animals and for your lawn. The populations of many species of butterfly are in decline much like many of the songbirds.

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn’t even consider gas. Ethanol in gasoline has basically ruined gas power equipment. It destroys the carburetors and fuel lines. The ONLY way to make gas power equipment last more than a season or two is to drain the tank when you’re done each time, and then run the engine until all the gas in the carb is used up. Don’t leave a drop a ethanol gasoline in it.

Use the premixed ethanol-free stuff from Home Depot et al. I had a leaf blower and a string trimmer that I didn’t drain for years and that started and worked great on premix.

Wouldn’t even consider gas. Ethanol in gasoline has basically ruined gas power equipment. It destroys the carburetors and fuel lines. The ONLY way to make gas power equipment last more than a season or two is to drain the tank when you’re done each time, and then run the engine until all the gas in the carb is used up. Don’t leave a drop a ethanol gasoline in it.

We have a cherry tree in the front and a maple in the back both around 50 ft and they dump lot of leaves despite the lawn being only 1/4 acre. Every week I'm raking up leaves plus the cherry tree was dropping leaves in the summer for some reason.

No cords!

For just a tiny 1/4 acre? Definitely use a rake. Why waste the money on tools you’ll use twice a year?