Like me, one of my neighbors does not rake his leaves. He claims that dead leaves break down into nutrients that the tree needs and will recover through its roots. I don't rake simply because I have too much other outdoor work to do, and lawn aesthetics are not a priority for the wife and I.

Still, plenty of folks are required by HOAs or social pressure to keep their yards tidy, meaning there are product designs to support leaf collection. Judging by the diversity of designs on the market, no one has nailed the perfect solution. Here's what companies have come up with:

This LeafEasy and Leaf Chute are simply creased polypropylene sheets that mate with leaf bags.

This EZ Leaf Hauler consists of a tarp and fiberglass rods. You're meant to stake it to the ground during loading. When full, you can use the handles to carry it over to your neighbor's yard to dump the leaves.

This Gardzen Yard Leaf Dustpan looks like it would be a bit finicky to use, depending on how wide your rake is.

Ditto with this discontinued Leaf Loader. I think the entry point's got to be flat to be easy to rake into, and that the taco shape would grow frustrating, though it looks great for dumping.

This peculiar-looking Owl Dustpan from Japan is meant to support a plastic garbage bag. It looks like it's designed more for broom-using municipal workers to tidy up paved areas rather than homeowners raking on grass.

A more complicated (to design) take is this Gardena Leaf Collector. Rotating bristles supposedly sweep the leaves right into the bag as you walk over them.

I was curious enough about that last one that I looked up a review. The reviewer below raves about it, but it doesn't seem all that efficacious to me:

It seems you've got to make multiple passes, and the unloading process looks a bit clunky to me.

Looking at all of these designs, I'm grateful I'm not forced to rake. Also, I think leaf-capturing objects would be a good ID school assignment.

I've used a snow shovel for leaves & cutting forever. I use one that's the same width as the yard waste bin & wheelbarrow so I can scoop out of it as well. It doesn't sit there taking up space for 10 months of the year.

I've had success with the WheelEasy https://allsopgarden.com/collections/gardening/products/wheeleasy since it has a flat portion for raking into, then transforms into a wheelbarrow. I like how it folds up for storage in my packed garage.

I’m a lapsed industrial designer. I was born in NYC and figured I’d die there, but a few years ago I abandoned New York to live on a farm in the countryside with my wife. We have six dogs.

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