A small yard (1/4 acre) will usually cost $320. A medium sized yard (1/2 acre) typically costs around $450. A large yard (1 acre) will generally run you about $600. These prices vary depending on the hourly rates, minimum requirements, tree density, distance and late notice. Most leaf removal companies charge extra for add-ons such as: mowing the grass, cleaning the gutters, deadheading plants and hauling away the leaves.

Yes, this is a good idea. Two tasks completed for the work of one! Bear in mind that you’ll need to unload your lawn mower bag more often than normal since it’ll be sucking up a lot of leaves. If you don’t have a bagger mower, no problem. You can just shred the leaves throughout your yard. Your lawn will benefit from the nutrients too. But don’t leave a thick layer of leaves on your lawn throughout the winter because your grass might die from being underneath the weight of leaves for months.

No, it’s actually a smart thing to do, if you happen to have woods on your property. Just be sure you push the leaves far enough into the woods otherwise the wind might blow them back on your yard. You should also spread out the leaves by distributing them in different places. This will prevent the piles from getting too big, which would become a major eyesore, since the piles will keep getting larger with every fall season.

Yes, leaves and grass can be combined in a compost bin to create a valuable soil additive for your garden. You should put nitrogen-rich items like food waste or manure on top of the leaves to help them deteriorate. Turn the compost pile once every month to ensure proportionate decomposition. It can take leaves anywhere from a few months to a full year to become usable garden compost. Rain water will help speed along this process. Want to learn about other ways to creatively put your old leaves to good use? If so, then feel free to read this blog I wrote about 9 Ways to Repurpose Fallen Autumn Leaves.

Most major cities hire a leaf pickup company to come by once a week, from April through November, to haul the yard waste away. This is free curbside pickup! They will take away your leaves so long as you put them in the appropriate yard waste bags. Because the type of bags you choose is so important, I wrote the a blog titled 6 Bags to Consider Using for Hauling Away Yard Waste. Warning: Don’t pack the bags too full because they could be left behind if the weight exceeds 40 pounds per bag.

Two factors are most important in determining when to do a fall clean up: daily weather and seasonal timing. Regarding the weather, check the forecast for a warmer day when there is little to no wind. Raking on a calm day will ensure your leaf piles don’t get blown away with heavy wind. Regarding the time of season, you should wait until all the leaves have fallen off the trees on and around your property (including your neighbors yard.) This will likely be some time between late October and mid-November. Read more about when leaves tend to fall in my blog A Guide to Understanding Seasonal Leaf Drop.

Once you have your leaves in big piles, use two hands to push together a big clump of leaves. Then lift the leaves and dump them into the bag. It’ll be easier if you have a leaf chute insert to put into your yard waste bag. This keeps the bag upright and reinforces the sides of the bag to prevent ripping or seam bursting. Alternatively, you can keep the opened bag on the ground and just push the leaves directly into the bag. Learn more by reading this article about the do’s and don’ts for raking leaves.

You should rake with the wind direction and down any hills you have. Rake the leaves onto a tarp so you can drag them to their destination. Begin by raking the leaves into small piles and do one section at a time. Once you’ve completed a large area, you can transition to bagging up the leaves. Try not to strain your back by bending over too much while raking. Instead, stand up straight to keep good posture so you won’t be too sore when you wake up the next morning.

If you’ve ever tried to rake leaves from a huge yard with a flimsy garden rake, then you don’t even need to hear me say that I don’t recommend it. Tines that bend and break make for a horrible raking experience. Sturdy prongs make the difference between a job well done and a job poorly done. The handle should be strong, made out of hard plastic, strong wood or even fiberglass. The claws can either be plastic or metal depending on the amount of leaves in the lawn. Read this blog to review the 9 Best Leaf Rakes of Fall 2023.

Generally speaking, the following tasks are not included in a standard yard cleanup: mowing the lawn, cleaning the gutters, deadheading annual plants, or disposing of the leaves. Landscaping companies are usually willing to do these extra services but they charge additional fees for each of them. So be sure to clarify that before you hire a leaf cleanup service, otherwise you risk the run of having unrealized expectations as a result of the miscommunication.

Most landscaping companies define a yard cleanup as clearing off the whole property of leaves, including the front, back and side yards. This is typically done by a combination of leaf raking and using a gas powered leaf blower. Some companies will provide yard waste bags whereas others will request the customer to provide those. Be sure to ask about that so everyone is on the same page. If you prefer to forego all that communication and just do it yourself, then check out my blog Leaf Removal Made Easy, which is your guide to effortless yard cleanup.

You should try to get a ballpark estimate on the total cost for your yard cleanup. Be ready to answer questions about the size of your yard and the number of trees on your property. Ask the leaf raking service how long they’ve been doing it and what their process is like. Google their company name to make sure they have good reviews online. Click here to get a leaf removal quote from His Workmanship.