When to schedule final leaf cleanup for lot with many trees?

[Anonymous]

I already had one leaf cleanup a couple of weeks ago. Lots of leaves removed. Now, the lot is again blanketed by leaves. I'd rather pay for one more cleanup, not two. Will most leaves have fallen by Thanksgiving? This is in Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Early december

[Anonymous]

Look up. Do you still see leaves? If yes then wait a few more weeks. If not, you can schedule now.

[Anonymous]

If it's possible to just leave them to break down, that's what I would do. It adds nutrients to your soil. If they must be removed, wait for the leaves to come down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I already had one leaf cleanup a couple of weeks ago. Lots of leaves removed. Now, the lot is again blanketed by leaves. I'd rather pay for one more cleanup, not two. Will most leaves have fallen by Thanksgiving? This is in Bethesda.

Take pictures of the tress currently and post here so we can advise meaningfully.

[Anonymous]

Early - mid Dec. landscapers do one nov cleanup and o Eden cleanup

[Anonymous]

They don't need to be removed, the grass has done growing for the year. You're not smothering anything. Leave them to turn to mulch, and before the spring grass pops up, you can clean up any remaining leftovers, if any. That is the environment-friendly thing to do.

[Anonymous]

the week of Dec 4 is when my HOA does it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
They don't need to be removed, the grass has done growing for the year. You're not smothering anything. Leave them to turn to mulch, and before the spring grass pops up, you can clean up any remaining leftovers, if any. That is the environment-friendly thing to do.

np but we have huge oak trees on a tiny lot. If we don’t remove the leaves they will be over a foot deep. (That’s how it was when we moved in and no one had done yard work the previous fall). Isn’t that too many leaves for what you describe?

[Anonymous]

Having mine done this week. First week January. My neighbor has trees that spit then out all the way to Martin Luther King Day.

If I skip second clean up I just have to pay for spring clean up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
They don't need to be removed, the grass has done growing for the year. You're not smothering anything. Leave them to turn to mulch, and before the spring grass pops up, you can clean up any remaining leftovers, if any. That is the environment-friendly thing to do.

np but we have huge oak trees on a tiny lot. If we don’t remove the leaves they will be over a foot deep. (That’s how it was when we moved in and no one had done yard work the previous fall). Isn’t that too many leaves for what you describe?

Ignore the tree huggers.

[Anonymous]

Leaving the leaves will increase lightning bugs. If you’re not ready to leave them, maybe compromise and do the one leaf removal you described and leave the rest. It’s the best way to feed your soil and lawn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
They don't need to be removed, the grass has done growing for the year. You're not smothering anything. Leave them to turn to mulch, and before the spring grass pops up, you can clean up any remaining leftovers, if any. That is the environment-friendly thing to do.

np but we have huge oak trees on a tiny lot. If we don’t remove the leaves they will be over a foot deep. (That’s how it was when we moved in and no one had done yard work the previous fall). Isn’t that too many leaves for what you describe?

You can’t leave the leaves if you want to maintain lawn. Lawn with trees is a difficult trick. It’s not the way things want to grow so you’ll have to intervene a lot.

If you want, you can transition to more of a “woodland” garden. If it looks more like rock creek park, it will require less intervention. Keeping in mind that rock creek park is heavily impacted by invasive species and deer overpopulation so it looks different than it otherwise might too.

The local ideal for this imo is the “Fern Valley” section of the National Arboretum. If you just walk through, you might think it’s natural woodland. But really there are a lot of gardeners in there working to control invasive species, manage the trees, and plant native ornamentals. But it’s probably still easier than having grass under trees. And definitely has more wildlife.