Managing Fall Foliage Best Practices for Leaf Removal and Composting

By
October 21, 2024
Main image blog

A guide to handling falling leaves, whether for composting, mulching or clearing to protect your land and home.

Fall officially begins in late September each year, but falling leaves and cold weather hit different areas at different times, or sometimes not at all! If you’re a landowner or have a home with a yard, you are well aware of the happiness and hassles fallen leaves can bring to a household. Preparing your property for the fall and cold weather requires many different steps, raking and removing foliage is just one part of that process. This comprehensive guide will consider the benefits and hindrances that come with fall foliage along with best removal methods and tools to help you better manage your land.

Are Dead Leaves Harmful to Your Land?

Fall foliage and other organic matter that is shed during the autumn season can be harmful to your grass if not properly managed. Dead leaves can block out the sunlight from the growing grass and hinder moisture retention if there are too big of piles of them. At any point, an ideal mark is about 10-20% of your yard or land should be covered. Any more than this can cause serious harm to the regeneration of your plant life. Wet leaves can compact the soil and prevent air circulation, leading to issues in the root system’s health.

Are There Benefits to Fall Foliage?

Dead leaves on your grass can also provide some benefits to your lawn. Decomposing over time, dead leaves can contribute to a compost pile that is beneficial to soil health. This sustainable practice is easy to do and quite cost effective, providing nutrients to the soil and preventing erosion and pest interference.

Tools for Leaf Management

Rakes

Raking up the fallen leaves in your yard is the most traditional method and is perfect for residential homes or houses with smaller yards. It’s eco-friendly, quiet, affordable and gives you the power to control where you gather your leaves. Choosing the right rake has more influence to the speed and success than you would think. Whether your grass is covered in traditional tree leaves or pine needles requires different rake shapes. Some might have a preference between plastic and metal rakes with the former typically offering a greater width and length and the latter having a longer lifespan.

Leaf Blower

Leaf blowers are a great tool for leaf management, particularly for larger areas. Making quick work of leaf removal, be mindful of safety precautions, especially for gas-powered blowers. New cordless and more sustainable options are now available, but choose the right leaf blower for you based on your space and personal needs. Proper research before purchasing and implementing your leaf blower is strongly encouraged. Leaf blowers can be very loud and cause debris to fly around, so wear eye protection and earplugs to keep yourself safe.

Mower

A mower equipped with a leaf collector or mulching blade can shred the dead leaves as you mow, making the lawn and leaf maintenance faster and easier. Not only does this save you time, but it also gives your yard a boost of nutrients from the organic matter of the foliage. Opting for a mower for your leaf removal is also best for those with large amounts of land as trying to rake an acreage would not be efficient unless only very few trees are on your property.  

Mulching vs. Composing Leaves    

Mulching Leaves

Mulching leaves involves shredding them directly onto your garden, lawn or acreage. This method can save time and energy by returning nutrients to the soil without a separate composting process. To achieve this result, the easiest option is purchasing a mulching mower, but you can also buy a separate mulcher. This option requires you to rake all the leaves, shred them and spread them around your desired area. Be sure to find the right blend of the leaf mulch with your yard, so your grass isn’t suffocated, but is still benefiting from the organic matter nutrients.

Composting Leaves

Leaf compost is the best way to break down leaves for a long-term solution for soil nutrition and improvement. Start a compost pile in a shaded area in your yard or in a designated tub/box then you can mix the dead leaves with green materials like grassing clippings, food scraps and other organic materials. In roughly six months, depending on the makeup, all the materials will have broken down. This compost will become a rich, organic fertilizer than can be used to enrich gardens, crops or soil.

Maintaining Your Property During Fall

Checking Your Roof

Leaf piles can accumulate on top of roofs during the fall, which can cause clogs and damage. Inspect your roof before and after the fall season or routinely during the cold months. Look for and remove piles of leaves, moss or other plant life that shouldn’t be there. Check for buckled, curled or faulty shingles or roof tiles before the harsh weather starts, so you can repair or replace them with plenty of time before the snows or rains begin.

Checking Your Gutters

Clearing out your gutters before torrential rains or snows is critical for preventing water damage and maintaining a healthy home. When leaves build up in your gutters, they can block the spouts and downspouts, causing water from rain or snow to back up or even overflow. Installing rail guards can help eliminate this issue.

 

 

Sources:

kansashealthyyards.org

extension.psu.edu

thespruce.com

pioneeringthesimplelife.org

reviewed.usatoday.com

thegreenstufflawn.com

ahs.com

negutters.com

Blog Video