The Best Way to Get Rid of Fall Leaves

Remove piles of leaves from your yard.

Many people find large quantities of leaves in a yard a nuisance and an unattractive addition. It's perfectly safe and healthy to let the leaves stay in place and decompose over the winter. However, there are also other options for removing the leaves that can benefit other plants in your yard, for example, by using the leaves as mulch. In some areas, the leaves can also be picked up by your trash service or another pick-up program.

Things You'll Need

• Protective gloves
• Rake
• Garbage bags
• Mulch mower

Instructions

1. Put on protective gloves before raking and picking up your leaves. Rake up the leaves in your yard.

2. Create piles of leaves, and then put the piles of leaves into large garbage bags, if you want dispose of the leaves.

3. Contact your trash service to see if they will pick up the leaves. If your service won't pick up the leaves, then you can ask if there are any community pick-up programs or drop-off sites available in your area.

4. Use a mulching mower to cut down the leaves if you to use the leaves for mulch or compost.

5. Spread the mulched leaves around trees, planting beds and shrubs to use them as compost.

6. Create a compost pile in a distant area of your yard. Keep all the leaves in one area so they decompose on their own. Grass clippings and other organic material can be added to the compost pile during the summer.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a mulch mower or regular lawn mower that has a mulch bag connected to it when you cut up the leaves.

• Check with your state laws before burning leaves as it may be banned in your area.

References

• Buckeye Gardening: The Best Way to Dispose of Fall Leaves
• University of Minnesota: Options for Disposing of Leaves
• Hoosier Gardener: Raking, Mowing Fall Leaves