Woman Shares Her Fall Yard Checklist, but One Tip Has an Important Catch

As everyone prepares to turn another page on the calendar, many homeowners are looking to pivot away from their summer chores so they can tackle some of those end-of-season jobs.

Fortunately, TikToker @oliviasaad3 has put together a funny video to help homeowners remember what they need to do.

She’s offering tips and tricks to make some of those more time-consuming jobs (like raking all those fallen leaves) that much easier for her followers. Her video is really taking off, and nearly 8,000 people liked it just one day after it was posted.

However, some people may want to skip one of the tasks depending on where they live, since leaving leaves on the ground can help the local ecosystem. That being said, people who live in areas that see colder temperatures may want to get a jump start on the tasks they plan to tackle since many of them will be less enjoyable to do once the mercury drops. 

Homeowner Describes Fall Cleanup Routine

@oliviasaad3 Here are the five things you should do in your yard before the winter hits!!! #incaseyourdaddidntteachyou #yardwork #learnontiktok #housemaintenance #housetips ♬ original sound – OliviaSaad

Anyone who has trees in their yard knows that cleaning up leaves is a multifaceted job. That’s why a lot of her tips involve dealing with the leaves. First, she reminds people to clean their gutters. “Step number one, clean the gutters,” she said, joking that she finds the job a lot easier when you have a husband to do it for you.

Step two involves cleaning up the leaves that were removed from the gutter, as well as the leaves that had fallen from the trees. The TikToker explained that the best way to tackle this chore involves mulching the leaves with your lawnmower.

Step three was to turn the water off and to disconnect the hose, draining it and then packing it away until the spring. Step four was another “pack it away” job, and the TikToker said that people need to grab the cushions belonging to their patio furniture and bring them inside for the season. 

Lastly, she says step five is to cover exposed outdoor plugs and wires so that they don’t get buried in the snow. 

Leaves Can Be Left Where They Fall

According to the National Wildlife Federation, it’s best to leave your leaves on the ground instead of cleaning them up (unless they have fallen on sidewalks or walkways). That’s because leaf litter provides an important cover for wildlife, allowing them to use the leaves as insulation during winter.

Additionally, the organization says that decomposing leaves provide important nutrients for garden beds and lawns, making them a great way to give your landscape a boost ahead of the next growing season. That being said, all of the TikToker’s other tips seemed both timely and spot on, making the video a great jumping-off point for anyone looking to tackle their fall cleanup this weekend.