If, like me, you have ever had a ‘bit of a fall’ (and, for our American readers, by bit of a fall, I don’t mean part of Autumn) you will know what I mean when I use the words ‘humiliating, debilitating and blooming painful.
There are many things in this world that could make you fall over in the street, snow, ice, badly maintained pavements, the sight of some psycho with a hammer dressed as a clown, but my personal nemesis is fallen, wet leaves. I have come a cropper at least twice.
On the first occasion I was, admittedly, rather foolishly kicking my way through the leaves while humming ‘Forever Autumn’ by Justin Hayward, from Jeff Wayne’s prog /musical theatre epic ‘War of the Worlds’, and got carried away while whistling the instrumental section and so it was my own fault. The second time, however, I was merely setting off, at a steady and statesmanlike pace, to the Rat and Cat-flap for a couple of pints of Molly Miggins Mild (no, I wasn’t walking back from the pub in case you were about to cast nasturtiums).
On both occasions I saved myself from head injury by taking the impact firmly on my wrists. If it weren’t for a superb and very patient physio’ (thank you Alec) and the great god Nurofen, my spin-bowling days would be over. (Some would say they passed a while ago but to those people I say ‘Meh!)
Anyway, the point is that fallen leaves, particularly of the post-rainstorm wet and slimy variety are a real slip hazard and need to be cleared. I say this in the knowledge that the second one of the events I have just mentioned was not just the result of carelessness, but also was (I can hardly bring myself to say this) caused by me, yes me not clearing the leaves from my own driveway.
There. I’ve said it. I put it off, I let the rain come, and I came a crunching cropper. My mother used to say “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”, well so is the road to hospital and pain. I meant to, I kept saying ‘I will clear that drive’ and I didn’t.
It could have been worse, it could have been Mrs Drew, the meter reader or the Ocado chap carrying groceries. If someone is working on your commercial premises, say a window cleaner or builder, and slips causing an injury they could possibly even sue you. It has happened. If you have commercial premises I believe you have a duty of care to warn of, and clear, slip and trip hazards and, much in the same way that snow and ice are a hazard, so can leaves be.
Anyway, it makes sense. Drives, paths and lawns should be kept free of leaves for all sorts of reasons, I have said before on these very virtual pages that leaves on your lawn can damage it, but you really don’t want your granny, the milkman, your partner or your kids hurting themselves just because you couldn’t be bothered to get out the rake, the broom or the blower.
So, if you do have a good quality blower, like this cordless Redback version, a decent affordable leaf sweeper like the MD Handy or perhaps a top-grade Billy Goat Wheeled Lawn and Litter vacuum , make sure they are ready, whip ’em out and do that job as soon as possible. Don’t put it off and risk the threat of injury lawyers or the ire of your long suffering postman or delivery man, get those leaves cleared. Mind you, if my postman ended up on the floor, at least it would be a good opportunity to ask “While you’re down there, could you pick up all your flipping rubber bands”
Anyhow, if you need more help and advice on leaf clearance, there are lots of options. You could read one of Dick’s blogs, tomorrows for example, or or this one, on useful Autumn tools, have a look at one of our many useful articles in our knowledge base, MowHow or give us a call on O845 4588 905 where our very friendly and helpful chaps and chapesses will give you FREE advice. Enjoy your garden. Drew Hardy