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Safety Tips for Cleaning Your Yard in the Fall

Many people mark the fall season by cleaning up their yards. The leaves start changing colors and slowly start falling onto your lawn, leaving dangerous spots for kids and guests. A hole covered up by leaves can lead to a broken leg or worse. To avoid befalling the same thing yourself, use basic safety tips for cleaning up around your yard.

  1. Sun Protection

    • Even though you've left summer behind, you must still be wary of the sun. The rays of the sun remain harmful even when there's shade or the sun remains hidden behind the clouds. Cover any exposed areas of your skin with sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF). Reapply the sunscreen every few hours, while working in the yard. Cover your head with a hat, but avoid wearing sunglasses when working around your yard. The sunglasses could obscure your vision and make it difficult to see hazardous areas in your lawn.

    The Right Clothing

    • The cooler temperatures associated with fall require different work clothing than you'd wear during the warmer months. This also varies depending on where you live. Those in the Midwest need warmer clothes, such as a long-sleeved shirt and jeans. If you live in a warmer location, you can get by with long pants and a short-sleeved shirt. Longer shirts and pants protect your skin from scratches caused by low-hanging tree branches and other plants. Make sure that the legs of your pants don't hang so low that you're tripping over the hems, as this can cause you to fall.

    Pick Up the Trash

    • Keep a roll of trash bags close by while cleaning up your yard during the fall months. Trash bags are especially useful when you're cleaning up fallen leaves or removing branches from trees. When you rake leaves into piles, you have no way of knowing what's underneath the leaves. Keep the bags nearby, and when you finish raking, move the leaf piles into trash bags. This keeps you from stepping into a hole or tripping over something that might be hidden by the leaves. The trash bags also help keep you organized. As well, throw away any broken or outdated lawn decorations and gardening equipment as you work. This prepares your lawn for the winter months and prevents guests from tripping or falling over broken items in your lawn when the yard is covered in snow.

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