Leaf Tarps for Landscaping

Function

• In landscape tasks, pruning or trimming is followed by raking, gathering and hauling the plant debris. Commercial landscapers often use leaf tarps because the tarps simplify routine chores. With a tarp flat on the ground, landscapers use a leaf blower to blow leaves and other debris onto the tarp. The tarp is rolled up or tied in a loose bag and tossed in a truck for disposal. Within a few minutes, bushels of leaves are gathered and cleared from the yard. For disposal, the tarp is simply untied and the load dumped. Because the tarp folds for storage like a blanket, it saves the space and weight of a wheelbarrow or other leaf-toting container.

Types

• Canvas or PVC outdoor tarps can function as leaf tarps, but are heavy and do not easily roll into leaf bags. Woven polypropylene or other lightweight tarps are more commonly used as tarps due to their low cost and easy handling. Some tarps feature rope handles at each corner so the tarp can be dragged or lifted more easily. Grommet holes on the sides of tarps enable the tarp to be staked to the ground, holding the tarp in place in inclement weather. Mesh tarps, because they are open-weave, allow rain or irrigation water to drain from the tarp and its load. Detachable grommets or tarp holders have rope clips or rings so that a poly rope can be drawn up around the load, making it into a large leaf sack. Some tarps are fireproof and waterproof.

Uses

• Leaf tarps function as temporary truck bed liners, protecting vehicles from leaf debris or other damage. Strapped over the load, leaf tarps hold leaves or other hauled materials in place and cover loads from wind and rain damage. Used as frost blankets, they protect vulnerable trees and bushes from freezing temperatures. Tied over stacked cordwood, the tarp keeps firewood dry. The fireproof and waterproof tarps function as camping tarps and utility tarps for emergencies.

Tips

• Leaf tarps are in raw, cut-to-size shapes or in finished and hemmed sizes. Buy a tarp suited to the task. A large tarp may be inexpensive, but will be heavy when full and hard to lift. A smaller, more manageable tarp may be a better solution. Mesh leaf nets work as leaf tarps. Woven from polyester or other mesh, these tarps are like oversized fish nets that carry leaves. They are not waterproof, but handle large leaf bundles. Some gardeners use the tarps for insect control. When fruit trees are infested with plum curculios, some gardeners place tarps under the tree and beat on the branches, knocking the beetles from the tree. The beetles are crushed and removed.