I tried the 'tarp burrito' method to clear leaves from my yard — and it's a game changer

(Image credit: Future) Just as you start to enjoy the fall colors of the leaves turning to charming shades of oranges, reds and yellows, they start dropping. And unfortunately, if you live near any trees, it's likely that those leaves are landing on your lawn.Mine has become swamped in what feels like a matter of days and every year, I find myself with a rake and a dream hoping I can get the job done as quickly as possible.But this year looks like it might go differently. I recently came across the 'tarp burrito', a hack that suggests that you can get your leaves cleaned up fast. So, I had to give it a try – and I have to say I was very surprised with the results.How does it work?On TikTok, @theblowmaster shares 'landscape industry secrets' to his over 40k followers. But it's his 'tarp burrito' method that caught my eye. While I've followed the 7 tips and tricks to raking leaves the easy way, one of which is using a tarp to load up your leaves, I never thought to try this.It's simple. Once you've laid your tarp out, you need to tie up the one end in a knot to securely hold your leaves. He explains: "That way, when you carry it, it folds up like a burrito." He then demonstrates dragging it along the lawn, exclaiming: "You see? It's not going anywhere."Here's what happened when I tried it (Image credit: Future)Thankfully, I already had a tarp ready to use (after a good shake of spiders from the garage). But, if you don't have one already, it'll only cost you around $10 to pick one up.Firstly, I laid the tarp out flat on my lawn so that I could rake all the leaves onto it. And as I started to collect leaves, I realized the wind was working against me. So, I weighed down two corners and decided to tie up my 'tarp burrito' straight away so that I'd stop losing the leaves out the back.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. (Image credit: Future)It actually worked surprisingly well, keeping the leaves secure as I moved between the waste and compost bin. I also have side access to my house, so I was able to pull the 'tarp burrito' all the way round to the front of my house to gather more leaves on the front yard.While I was concerned that tying up the ends would be difficult with the stiffness of the tarp, if anything it worked better. Sure, I still lost some leaves because it was a windy day, but I figure I'd have lost a lot more if I hadn't tried out this hack.I'd recommend attaching a peg or two or tying up the knot with a rubber band to fully secure it if you're going to be moving the tarp around a lot. But, for a simple leaf clear up on my lawn, it certainly does the job. I'll be using it again every year. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Alternatively, you can read our content on the Tom's Guide app available now for iOS and Android. Subscribe to Tom's Guide on YouTube and follow us on TikTok. Finally, you can visit our dedicated Tom's Guide Savings Squad hub for expert help on getting the best products for less. More from Tom's GuideHow to remove leaf stains from concrete — no vinegar requiredDon’t clear those fallen leaves: The free fall hack that stops weeds in their tracksI used four different tools to get rid of leaves in my yard, and this is the one I recommend Grace is a freelance journalist working across homes, lifestyle, gaming and entertainment. You'll find her writing for Tom's Guide, TechRadar, Space.com, and other sites. If she's not rearranging her furniture, decluttering her home, or relaxing in front of the latest streaming series, she'll be typing fervently about any of her much-loved hobbies and interests. To aid her writing, she loves to head down internet rabbit holes for an unprecedented amount of time.