Leaf Cleanup

A thick blanket of leaves can smother grass, trap moisture, harbor pests and encourage disease. Leaf cleanup keeps lawns and beds healthy through winter and gets your yard ready for spring. Services range from a single end-of-season visit to repeat visits during the fall drop. Methods include raking, leaf blowers and mulching mowers. Many lawns do well with light leaf cover mowed into small pieces, because shredded leaves break down and feed the soil. Heavy cover needs to be removed, since it can block light and trap moisture. Beds are a different story. Some gardeners leave leaves in beds as natural mulch, which supports soil life, and many pollinators and other insects overwinter in leaf litter. Others prefer a tidier look. If you care about wildlife, ask your provider about leaving some leaf cover in less visible beds, or relocating leaves to a compost or leaf mold pile. Disposal depends on where you live. Some municipalities provide curbside leaf collection, require paper bags, or restrict burning entirely. Others expect leaves to be composted on site. Confirm what your city allows before agreeing to a disposal method, and ask whether haul-away is included in the quote. Timing is a challenge in places where leaves drop over many weeks. One visit too early means leaves keep falling afterward. Ask whether your provider schedules a final visit after most leaves are down, and whether they bill per visit or per job. Gutters, roofs and drains often collect leaves too. Gutter cleaning is usually a separate service with ladder work and different insurance considerations.

The crew blows or rakes leaves from lawn, beds and hard surfaces, then bags, tarps or mulches them depending on the plan, and hauls away or places them where you agreed. Drains and beds may be cleared if included.

Fall through early winter, depending on when your trees drop leaves. In mild climates, leaf drop may be lighter and spread out.

Raking and blowing are within reach of most homeowners. Hire for large properties, many mature trees, physical limitations, or when you are short on time during peak fall.

Do you charge per visit or per job, and how many visits are typical? Is haul-away included, and where do leaves go? Can leaves be mulched into the lawn instead of removed? Will you clear leaves from beds, gutters or drains? What does my city allow for leaf disposal?