Managing Autumn Leaves: Why “Wait Until They All Fall” is a Mistake

It is October in Massachusetts and the foliage is in full swing. The stunning reds, oranges and yellows blend together to create another breathtaking New England Fall. But homeowners know what is next. Once the colors fade and the leaves fall, their yard is where the leaves and debris will land and begin to accumulate. It is time for a fall cleanup. Whether you are doing it yourself or hiring professional for your fall cleanup, there is a natural inclination to try and wait until all the leaves have fallen before you do your fall cleanup. However, this mindset will lead you astray when it comes to fall cleanups. Below, we will discuss why a few smaller cleanups actually makes a bigger impact on your yard than trying to wait and do one big cleanup at the end of the season.

Prevents Lawn Damage

Allowing leaves to build up in your yard can lead to lawn damage. Leaving a layer of leaves will prevent your lawn from getting adequate sunlight and oxygen. Additionally, leaf buildup can trap moisture and create a breeding ground for disease and pests. Repeatedly walking on leaf covered grass also leads to soil compaction, leading to root restriction and a decreased ability for your lawn to absorb the nutrients and oxygen it needs. The longer you wait to start removing the leaves the more likely it is that your lawn will suffer. By doing a few smaller cleanups throughout the fall, you allow your lawn to breathe and continue establishing stronger roots before the winter, allowing it to come back stronger and healthier the next spring.

Improves Efficiency

Imagine you want to clean your room but you keep putting it off. Your laundry bin piles higher and higher, a layer of dust settles on every surface, and the lack of organization makes it harder and harder to find what you need. Now you need to aggressively attack various aspects of your room in order to restore it to order. Whereas if you do some light housekeeping every day it only takes a few minutes to keep your room clean. The same is true of your outdoor space as well. Your pile of leaves can quickly become a dense layer of matted debris making it much harder to clean up. By having a few smaller cleanups, you are actually improving the efficiency of the cleanups by staying on top of it.

Allows for Flexibility Due to Weather Constraints

Another good argument can be made for multiple cleanups due to the flexibility it provides around the weather. The fall tends to have unpredictable weather and it can greatly impact your ability to do a fall cleanup. Wet conditions after it has rained is not ideal for a fall cleanup. The pile of leaves that was once rather light becomes and dense mat that is much harder to get off of your property. Doing yard work when it is still wet out can also damage your lawn. Your soil is especially prone to compaction after it has rained, so walking around trying to do a fall cleanup after it has rained is not ideal for your soil’s health. Rain is not the only inclement weather than can cause issues for fall cleanups. In Massachusetts if you are attempting to wait until the majority of leaves to come down you also run the risk of encountering snow before you get to your fall cleanup. If the ground is frozen, attempting to do a fall cleanup might do more harm than good to your lawn. Therefore, it is much better to do a few smaller cleanups than to try and time the leaves and do one big cleanup.

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Perennial Landscape Corporation

The Quality You Expect and the Service You Deserve

Perennial Landscape Corporation is a family-owned business creating distinguished landscape environments in Winchester, Concord, Lexington, Andover and surrounding Massachusetts areas since 1995.

Perennial Landscape Corporation was named after the category of plants called perennials. Perennials are plants that have a lifespan of two or more years, meaning they come back each year. Just like a perennial, our aim is for you to be able to count on us year after year.

Here at Perennial, we pride ourselves on providing excellent landscaping services and outstanding customer service. Our motto is ” the quality you expect and the service you deserve”. That is the mindset that permeates every aspect of our work.