A stroll through leaves can be the best of times, but cleaning them up can be the worst of times—unless you know how to do it efficiently and effectively.

The summer months can be a dry time of year for large portions of the country, and a lack of rain can put a damper on lots of things—the look of your lawn, in particular. Though it’s tempting to install a sprinkler or pick up the hose to keep things green, it can be costly and a drain on resources.