Code Enforcement: Fall Leaf Cleanup Tips

I Can’t Be-Leave It’s Fall Already

So, you wake up from a good night’s rest. You’re refreshed and ready to start your day. You make a cup of coffee, look out the window, and suddenly that “It’s going to be a great day” feeling begins to vanish. Why? Because you’ve got leaves to pick up, and it’s never just one or two—a few here, a few there. No, it’s thousands, maybe millions, who knows? You just know there are a lot of them, and they all have to get picked up.

But that begs the question: What is the best way to pick up leaves? Why should you pick up the leaves in your yard? And what else, other than throwing them in a trash bag, can be done with leaves after you’ve picked them up?

Why it’s important to pick up the leaves that fall in your yard.

Lawn Health (Suffocation)

A thick mat of wet leaves blocks sunlight and air from reaching your grass, leading to mold, fungus, and the death of the turf over the winter. Even a small pile of leaves can kill the grass underneath if left for a long period of time. That dead patch of grass can then become a place where unwanted weeds, such as crabgrass, begin to grow.

Safety and Maintenance – Wet leaves on hard surfaces like walkways and driveways become slippery hazards. They can also clog gutters, leading to water damage to your home.

Wildlife Habitat – Leaves provide important winter shelter for insects, spiders, and beneficial pollinators like moths and butterflies. However, piles of leaves can also provide a great hiding place for rodents. Leaves left against the sides of your home or near doorways can create an opportunity for mice to enter your home undetected.

Best Methods for Leaf Removal

The Lawn Mower Mulching Method (Fastest) – The lawn mower is my personal go-to method for getting rid of leaves. It’s the fastest option, the leaves get shredded, reducing the number of contractor bags needed, and the grass gets cut at the same time

Leaf Vacuum – I’m not a big fan of these. They work well if you have a small yard, but for larger yards, the bag capacity isn’t great, and I found them to be a pain to drag around. If you want to buy a leaf vacuum, definitely shop around and read reviews.

Leaf Rake – Nothing beats a classic, am I right? The original—the OG of lawn maintenance—the leaf rake.

Special Mention: Leaf Sweeper – I’ve never used one of these. They seem to be trending right now. I’ve seen plenty of online videos of people using them and have read many reviews, and most of the feedback isn’t bad.

Now That You’ve Picked Up the Leaves, What Do You Do With Them?

I usually put leaves in contractor bags and place those bags at the curb, but there are other things you can do with your leaves.

Garden Bed Mulch

Instead of buying wood mulch, you can use the leaves you already have. Leaves make great insulation, protecting roots from freezing temperatures while also helping suppress weeds.

As leaves break down, they add organic material back into the soil, improving the quality of your garden soil. I like to add a combination of materials to my vegetable garden soil, and fallen leaves are always one of them.

Improve Compost

Fallen leaves are a great addition to compost piles. They break down easily and help speed up the decomposition process. Make sure the leaves are shredded first—the smaller the pieces, the quicker they will break down into compost.

Leaf Art

This really isn’t my thing, but some people enjoy it. Leaf art is exactly what it sounds like: taking fallen leaves and turning them into artwork.

You can find many leaf art ideas online. The materials are usually inexpensive, and it is a fun activity to do with kids. You can create leaf collages, wax paper leaf pressing projects, turkey leaf art for Thanksgiving, or scrapbook a unique and beautiful leaf you find.

There are countless ideas for leaf art. Sadly, none of them benefit your lawn quite as much as simply picking up those leaves.