Ahh, fall. It’s one of the most beautiful times of year in Loudoun County and Northern Virginia. What’s the best approach to managing autumn leaves? Should you remove them or let them be? Here’s a quick guide to leaf removal and a few additional tips for fall and winter yard cleanup.
Should I Remove Leaves From My Lawn?
Clearing leaves is an essential part of fall lawn care. If you let leaves pile up, they can block all-important fall sunlight from nourishing your lawn. Leaves can also trap moisture and cause disease, mold, and pests. Dead leaves can lead to bare spots in your yard. It’s vital to remove them if you’ve done aeration and overseeding earlier in the fall so your new grass can get the nutrients it needs.
What’s The Best Way To Remove Leaves?
A good old-fashioned rake is still an effective tool if you have time and a strong back. If you have a larger yard, a leaf blower or yard vacuum makes sense. You can blow them onto a tarp and place them in an environmentally friendly yard waste bag for disposal. Composting leaves is another excellent approach and provides you with nutrients for garden beds and other plants for fall. Another option is mulching dead leaves directly onto your lawn–just like you might recycle grass clippings–to return nutrients to your yard. You’ll need a mulching mower or a professional lawn care company for this task.
When Is The Best Time To Remove Leaves?
It’s best to remove leaves at least twice during the season to avoid build-up. Start with an initial removal midway through the season, then clear them again later in the season as the last leaves have fallen.
Other Important Fall and Winter Cleanup Tasks
Leaf removal is one of the big lawn care tasks for fall. But there’s a list of other cleanup essentials you can add to your checklist. November is an excellent time to:
- Remove debris, including weeds, dead plants, twigs, roots, and brush.
- Trim dead and diseased tree branches. As the leaves drop, it’s an excellent opportunity to clear potentially dangerous limbs.
- Prune trees and shrubs to get ready for spring growth.
- Clean up vegetable and flower gardens. Add a layer of compost to your gardens to help get ready for spring.
- Spray evergreens with an anti-desiccant to prevent burns.
- Fall mulching to insulate the soil and keep plant roots and beneficial organisms warm.
- Protect young or delicate trees and shrubs with tree wrap to prevent frost damage.
Leaf Removal and Fall Cleanup: Should I DIY Or Call The Pros?
If you have a small yard, fall leaf management isn’t a big deal. But for larger Loudoun properties, having a professional on your side lets you enjoy fall without breaking your back.
Professionals have the tools and expertise to remove leaves properly, including mulching mowers, leaf blowers, and lawn vacuums. Your landscape professionals know which trees and shrubs benefit from fall pruning and which to leave alone. They’re also fall mulching experts who know how to apply it for maximum benefit.
At Epling Landscaping and Lawn Services, our professional team masters every element of fall cleanup, from intelligent and environmentally friendly leaf removal to pruning, mulching, and beyond. Your property could likely benefit from some TLC beyond the summer mowing season; ask about our Complete Lawn Care program and Total Landscape Care program. We understand that a gorgeous lawn and landscape require attention all year long.
