Keeping your patio nice and clean can feel like an endless chore sometimes, but it’s an essential part of a nice-looking patio. Here are five effective ways to keep leaves off your patio.
- Add a mesh fence or screen
- Use a leaf blower
- Put up a tarp
- Rake it away
- Use a yard vacuum
As you can see, there are several effective solutions to getting leaves off your patio for a tidy area. The rest of this article will walk you through each of these methods to decide which one is best for you.
Add a Mesh Fence or Screen
A wire mesh fence is one of the best ways to keep your patio free and clear from leaves. Lots of local companies offer installation for fencing and wire mesh. Schedule a visit, and they’ll take some measurements of your patio.
Based on the size of your patio, they’ll give you a quote for the price of installing a mesh screen. There are lots of different types of wire mesh to fit your style, and you can always negotiate a price for the installation or build it yourself if you want to take the DIY route.
A wire mesh installation isn’t usually expensive, and it works wonders to keep leaves away from their houses.
Of course, there are a few downsides to adding a wire mesh fence to your patio. To many people, it can feel a little cage-like. A screen material like aluminum also works for keeping leaves out of your patio and has the added benefit of coming in a wider variety of colors. The screen material can also keep your patio a little more shaded.
In the end, it’s up to you whether the downside of having your patio more closed off is worth the benefit of not having leaves constantly blowing on your patio.
Use a Leaf Blower
A leaf blower is perhaps the quickest way to deal with leaves on your patio. Whether you use a gas or electric-powered leaf blower, there are lots of inexpensive solutions to your leaf problem.
You should select the right size of leaf blower depending on the size of your patio. You can also take the time blowing your patio to do your yard as well.
Some leaf blowers also come with an attachable collection bag, so if you get a leaf blower for just your patio, you can suck up all of the leaves and dispose of them in your trash can.
Some leaf blowers use a string-powered starter, while others have a slide that you have to flip to the on position. Once you’ve got it going, all you need to do it point it at the leaves, and your patio troubles are over.
Put Up a Tarp
Whenever you’re not using your patio, consider putting up a tarp. This is ideal if you have a smaller patio that doesn’t pose too much of a hassle to put up a big tarp. It’s a straightforward way of keeping leaves from falling on your patio.
If you want to enjoy the sunshine, simply take down the tarp whenever you want to use the patio. Better still, the debris and leaves collected by the tarp are often easily dealt with, and you can quickly empty the tarp into your trash can to make it easily reusable.
Tarps are also ideal for protecting your outdoor patio furniture from both rain and sun, preventing your cushions from getting soaked or sun-bleached.
Rake It Away
The classic tool for the yard works just as well on the patio. This is typically the cheapest solution to cleaning off your patio.
Simply pick up your rake and move away all of the leaves on the patio. Investing in a good-quality rake is not only a good idea for cleaning up your patio, but it’s useful if you get a lot of leaves in your yard as well.
If you’re using the rake and a tarp, then you can rake all of your leaves onto the tarp to scoop them up all in one go and move them over to the trash can. Just keep in mind that you have to be careful using your rake on certain surfaces of your patio to avoid scratching it.
Use a Yard Vacuum
A yard vacuum is a good solution for patios because, unlike a leaf blower, yard vacuums typically have a much wider opening, allowing you to pick up leaves more efficiently. If you want your flower beds on your patio to stay leaf-free, then a yard vacuum might be the solution for you.
Final Thoughts
Getting rid of leaves on your patio can feel like a thankless job, but it’s well worth it to have a clean and tidy patio. Solutions range from modifying your patio so that leaves can’t get in to simply removing the leaves using tools.
Wire mesh or screen material is ideal for keeping leaves out but has the detriment of fundamentally altering the look of your patio, while mechanical solutions like leaf blowers or the humble rake require frequent cleanings, especially if you live somewhere that gets a lot of leaves.
However you choose to approach the issue of leaves on your patio, regular patio maintenance is key to keeping it leaf-free for good.
FAQs
How to Get Rid of Leaves on Patio without Damaging It?
A tarp is the best way to get rid of leaves on your patio without damaging it. A rake does run the risk of damaging your patio, and a leaf blower can potentially damage any flowers or decorations you have.
Do Leaves Blow on Patio Furniture?
All throughout the year, but especially in the Fall, you can expect leaves to blow all over your tables, furniture, and other parts of your patio.
Should I Add Mesh Wire to My Patio to Stop Leaves?
Mesh wire is a good solution to stop leaves entirely, but just be aware that it will obstruct your view of the outside to some degree.