Lawn and yard

Fall Leaf Cleanup: What to Do and When

Simple ways to handle fall leaves so your lawn, gutters and flower beds come through winter in good shape.

Fall in west Georgia brings a long leaf season. Oaks, maples, sweetgums and pecans drop a lot, and pines shed needles too. Some trees hang onto their leaves well into winter. Doing your fall leaf cleanup the right way helps your lawn, keeps gutters flowing and makes spring cleanup easier.

Why leaves matter

A few scattered leaves won't hurt anything. Problems start when leaves pile up:

• Thick mats smother grass. Wet leaves block sunlight and trap moisture. That can lead to thin spots and disease.
• Tall fescue is most at risk. It grows actively in fall and needs light. Covered fescue can thin out fast.
• Warm-season grasses like Bermuda, zoysia and centipede are heading into dormancy, but heavy mats can still hold moisture and cause problems by spring.
• Clogged gutters overflow during fall and winter rains, sending water toward your foundation.
• Slippery walks and steps become a fall hazard.

Option 1: Mulch them with your mower

For a light to moderate layer, mulching is the easiest choice. Run the mower over dry leaves until they're chopped into small, dime-size pieces. The bits settle between grass blades and break down over the winter.

Tips:

• Mow when leaves are dry.
• Keep the mower at your normal mowing height.
• You may need two passes.
• If you can still see a solid layer of leaves after mowing, there's too much. Rake or bag some.

Option 2: Rake or blow them

For heavy leaf fall, raking or blowing is the way to go. Gather leaves onto a tarp to move them easily.

• Do it a few times through the season instead of waiting until every leaf is down. A big wet pile is much harder to move.
• Clear around shrubs and beds so leaves don't pile against siding or block vents.
• Clear patios and walks to prevent slips and stains.

What to do with the leaves

• Compost them. Shredded leaves break down faster.
• Use them as mulch in garden beds. A few inches of chopped leaves protects soil over winter.
• Bag them for pickup if your town offers it. Check local rules on bag type.
• Haul them off. For big jobs, a cleanup service can take them away.

Never blow or dump leaves into storm drains, ditches or creeks. They clog drainage and cause flooding during heavy rain.

About burning

Burning rules vary by location and time of year. Check with your city or county and the Georgia Forestry Commission before burning any yard debris. Never burn near buildings or on dry, windy days.

Don't forget the gutters

Leaves and pine needles fill gutters fast. Clean them out after most leaves have dropped, and check again after big storms. Make sure downspouts are clear and water flows away from the house. Our fall home maintenance checklist covers this and more.

If your gutters are high up or on a steep roofline, think twice about doing it yourself. Ladder falls are a real risk.

Clean out beds and edges

• Pull leaves out of the crowns of low plants like hostas and liriope so they don't rot.
• Leave a light layer of leaf mulch in beds if you like, but keep it a few inches away from your foundation and siding.
• Cut back dead perennials if you prefer a tidy look.

Timing for lawn care

Fall is when tall fescue gets seeded and fed. If you've just seeded, keep leaves off new grass so it gets light. For warm-season lawns, avoid late fertilizer and keep mowing until the grass goes dormant. Our lawn care calendar has the full timeline.

Let us handle the leaves

Leaf season is long, and raking a big yard takes hours. We offer yard cleanup, lawn mowing and haul-off. Text a photo of your yard to (706) 594-5049, or fill out our free estimate form for a free estimate.