[This article first appeared here in March 2019. It has been revised and expanded.]

Most people tend to think of old furniture, appliances or piles of clothes and toys when they think of junk hauling. But not their yards.

But the truth is that many times people can accumulate large volumes of debris and waste in the process of either cleaning their outdoor property, or as a result of some landscaping work. No matter how and why the "yard junk" is generated, it still has to be gotten rid of.

Summer is a Great Time to Landscape Your Yard

Maybe you've already been planning on it, or perhaps you haven't considered it until now. Either way, summer is almost always a good time to embark on a landscaping project no matter the scope. For most people the weather is usually cooperative and even warm, which makes it a great time of year for adding new elements to your outdoor spaces.

Depending on where you live, replacing or adding pants is usually done better in the early spring than any other time of year. Too, most locales offer the best conditions for re-seeding, re-planting, pruning and so on in the spring. 

In addition to the lawns, shrubbery and flowers, it's a great time of year to consider adding trees to the mix, if you are so inclined. Young trees are often susceptible to breakage and other severe damage due to the high winds that often come with winter storms, so spring planting is often best. And they will provide a beautiful addition come fall.

Another great project to launch in springtime is adding non-plant landscape features such as walkways, patios, retaining walls, stone borders and such. Maybe even a fountain or some other type of water feature! These projects can be quite involved and labor-intensive, but this is all the more reason why taking advantage of the spring weather makes sense for these tasks. 

Tips for Junk Cleanup in Your Yard

It seems that residential yards are subject to a variety of laws of nature, one of those being that if neglected long enough, they will accumulate a variety of trash, debris, and junk. And when you carry out any type of landscaping project, that trash, debris, and junk only multiplies!

It is also true that taking care of large debris and junk cleanup in your outdoor spaces can be challenging at times. And labor intensive, as well. However, here are some tips to make yard cleanup easier and more efficient:

1. Plan and prioritize: Before starting the cleanup, create a plan of action. Assess the yard and prioritize tasks based on urgency. Focus on high-traffic areas, remove debris, and tackle larger projects first.

2. Gather the right tools: Make sure you have all the necessary tools for the job. This may include rakes, leaf blowers, pruning shears, hedge trimmers, and garbage bags. Having the right tools will save time and effort.

3. Clear the clutter: Remove any clutter or objects that don't belong in the yard. This includes children's toys, garden tools, and fallen branches. Clearing the clutter first will make the cleanup process smoother.

4. Use a systematic approach: Work in sections, tackling one area at a time. This allows you to stay focused and prevents you from feeling overwhelmed. Start at one end of the yard and work your way across, ensuring every corner is covered.

5. Practice proper waste disposal: Separate organic waste from non-biodegradable waste. Compost leaves, grass clippings, and small branches to create nutrient-rich soil. Dispose of non-biodegradable waste responsibly, either through recycling programs or waste management services.

6. Utilize efficient techniques: When raking leaves, use a tarp or large sheet to gather them in one place for easier transport. Mulching leaves with a lawnmower can also save time and add nutrients back into the soil. Use a leaf blower for hard-to-reach areas or large quantities of leaves.

7. Delegate and seek assistance: Yard cleanup doesn't have to be a solo endeavor. Enlist family members, friends, or neighbors to help. This not only speeds up the process but also makes it more enjoyable.

8. Maintain regular maintenance: Regular yard maintenance helps prevent excessive cleanup in the future. Regularly mow the lawn, trim hedges, and remove weeds. This prevents clutter and reduces the effort required during cleanup.

9. Take breaks and stay hydrated: Yard cleanup can be physically demanding, especially in summer, so remember to take breaks and stay hydrated. Pace yourself and listen to your body to avoid fatigue or injury.

10. Reward yourself: Once the yard cleanup is complete, take a moment to appreciate your hard work and enjoy the results. Treat yourself to a well-deserved break or a relaxing time in your clean and beautiful yard.

By following these tips, you can make yard cleanup a more manageable and efficient task, allowing you to enjoy a well-maintained outdoor space.

Landscape Work: Yard Waste and Debris

Of course, while digging things up or planting new ones, pruning and trimming, and all the other assorted tasks and landscaping projects can be fun it can also improve your outdoor areas. But, as we noted previously, in the process of all this outdoor activity you will find that you are also generating a great deal of yard waste and debris. 

And you might even be gathering up and collecting other types of junk in your outdoor spaces.

What kind of junk? This might include old, broken lawn furniture, toys, tools and building materials. Sometimes you might come across things that have been stored away in nooks and crannies years before and forgotten. Old sheds, broken fences, and even a hot tub or above ground pool that is no longer usable can make their way into your "junk" piles.

What all this adds up to is a potentially large amount of debris and junk that needs to be gotten rid of! And, for many people, this becomes a major task in itself.

If you don't own a truck that is already a problem. And, even if you do have a truck - or one you can borrow - you still have the chore of loading it, hauling the junk and debris off-site, and then finding a good place to dispose of it all.

In all likelihood, this place is going to be the county or municipal landfill, or dump.

And, while you can certainly go this route, the fees for dumping along with any restrictions that can keep you from dumping some of your items make it an expensive one. Most landfills will not take anything that is toxic or hazardous such as treated wood, for example.

Old building materials that have any lead paint or asbestos will be prohibited. And you may even be required to separate your loads so that recyclable materials and materials that can be composted are in different loads.

But what if you don't have a truck or access to one?

This becomes an even bigger challenge since you're not going to haul wheelbarrows full of old soil, plants, tree trimmings and the like in the back of your family car! You could rent a truck, but this often becomes much more expensive than you initially believe once you add the fees for mileage and the insurance costs to the actual rental fee. 

And, if transportation for your junk hauling were not problematic enough, you still have to do all the work yourself. This can be both exhausting and dangerous depending on how much debris you have and what it consists of. Nobody likes hauling large chunks of broken concrete, for example!

A Great Option for Yard Waste Disposal

As we've described here, yard waste can obviously come in many forms. Winter storms can leave tree branches strewn across your yard. Old sheds or other structures might be falling apart from age or neglect. Your new spring gardening or landscaping project ends up leaving piles of dirt and debris everywhere.

Or it may simply be a large amount of junk and clutter in your yard that you haven’t had time to clean up.

Whatever it is, there's a great option for disposing of your yard waste that doesn't involve you doing any of it!

Junk King provides an efficient, safe and eco-friendly yard waste removal service so you don’t need to worry about the pick up or disposal of your yard debris. Our experienced debris removal team will break down and haul off any types of yard waste you have. Unlike the backseat of your car, our junk removal trucks are made to handle those dirty yard debris items.

So, are you ready to get rid of your yard junk and debris? We make it simple. 

Just make an appointment by booking online above or by calling 1.888.888.JUNK (5865). 

Our professional and insured yard waste removal team will show up at your home or office, and we’ll call 15 to 30 minutes before we arrive on site. And once we're there we’ll give you a free estimate based on how much room your junk takes up in our truck. You just point, and we haul the debris into our junk removal trucks - and all with no hidden fees!