Every fall, we get the same question: What to do with fallen leaves? Most homeowners treat fallen leaves like a problem to be cleaned up. They blow them into the street, bag them by the dozen, or burn them. Some leave them and worry their lawn will die. Others remove every last one and wonder why their soil feels weak by spring.
The truth is, fallen leaves aren’t a waste. They’re actually a massive resource. Like everything else in nature, there is a rhyme and reason to fallen leaves. But like any resource, how you handle them really matters.
Understand What Fallen Leaves Actually Do
Before you decide what to do with fallen leaves, it helps to know what they’re doing out there on the ground. Leaves are full of nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and trace minerals that trees pull from deep in the soil all year. When leaves drop, they start decomposing. Microbes, fungi, and insects break the leaves and minerals down. That process feeds the soil and, eventually, feeds the trees again!
This is nature’s fascinating recycling system. In a forest, nothing gets raked and nothing gets blown. Leaves pile up, break down, and build rich topsoil over time. Your yard of course isn’t a forest, but you can still borrow from that system.
Know Your Tree Type
The key is balance. Too many leaves smother the grass. Too few, and you lose that natural soil booster. So, what to do with fallen leaves? Start by asking: How thick is the layer? Where are they lying? What kind of trees do you have? Maple and oak leaves, for example, break down slower than birch or ash. Oaks also contain tannins, which can temporarily lower soil pH. That’s not always bad, but it’s something to consider if you’re composting or mulching heavily. You can also keep tree leaves at bay with professional tree pruning services.
Leave Them in the Right Places
We don’t recommend clearing every leaf from your yard. On garden beds, around trees, and in shaded areas, a 1- to 2-inch layer of leaves can stay. They’ll insulate plant roots, reduce moisture loss, and slowly decompose. If you’ve got perennials or native plants, this is especially helpful. Many pollinators, like native bees and butterfly pupae, overwinter in fallen leaves. Clean everything up, and you could be harming them.
Keep the Good Bugs
We’ve seen customers who stopped removing all their leaves report more ladybugs, fewer aphids, and healthier flower growth in spring and summer. It’s not magic; it’s ecology.
But – and this is important – don’t let leaves pile up on your lawn. A heavy leaf mat blocks sunlight and air. Grass can’t breathe, and it yellows and can die. That’s when you get thin, patchy turf in spring.
Mow Fallen Leaves In
One of the simplest solutions to fallen leaves? Run a mulching mower over them. We recommend this to homeowners all the time. If the leaf layer is light to moderate, just mow over it. The blades chop the leaves into small pieces. They fall between the grass blades and start breaking down. You don’t need to bag, rake, or haul. The job takes just a few minutes, and you’re feeding your lawn instead of starving it.
Don’t Overflow Your Mower
Just make sure your mower can handle it. Wet, thick leaves can clog the deck. Do it in dry weather and go slowly. And if the pile is too deep, remove half first, then mulch the rest. After a few years of mowing leaves in, your lawns will be thicker, greener, and require less fertilizer. The soil will feel looser, and earthworm activity will be higher.
Composting Fallen Leaves
If you’ve got more leaves than your yard can use, composting is the next best move. Keep a separate bin just for leaves. Add kitchen scraps, grass clippings, and old plant material in layers. The leaves balance the nitrogen-rich greens and keep the pile from getting soggy.
How To Make Fallen Leaf Compost
A good ratio is 3 parts leaves to 1 part green waste. Turn it every few weeks, keep it damp like a wrung-out sponge, and by spring you’ve got beautifully dark, crumbly compost. This is great to be used around young trees, in vegetable gardens, and as top dressing for thin lawn areas. Pro tip: shred the leaves first. Whole leaves pack down and slow decomposition. Run them over with the mower or use a leaf shredder. They break down faster and mix better.
Use Fallen Leaves As Mulch
We bag and sell mulch sometimes, but honestly? The best mulch is free – it’s the leaves we all collect in November. Shred them, spread a 2- to 3-inch layer around trees and shrubs, and leave it. It suppresses weeds, holds moisture, and protects roots from freeze-thaw cycles.
Know When To Remove Fallen Leaves
If you’ve got a heavy oak or mature maple, you might simply have too many leaves to compost or mulch. That’s okay. In NYC, the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) runs seasonal curbside leaf collection from late October through December. All five boroughs participate – just check your pickup schedule on the DSNY website, since dates and zones vary.
Here’s What You Need to Know:
Rake leaves to the curb or tree lawn, not into the street, and keep them separate from trash and recycling. Use paper yard waste bags or open containers. Plastic bags are not allowed, and they won’t be collected.
Where Do They Go?
NYC doesn’t landfill these leaves. They’re composted at facilities like Freshkills Park on Staten Island and used in parks and green spaces. And please, don’t use a leaf blower to push leaves into the street. It’s against city rules. Leaves clog storm drains and contribute to flooding. We see it after every heavy rain.
Bottom Line: Leave the Leaves
We see too many people treat fall cleanup like a war on nature. Raking, blowing, bagging – exhausting themselves over something that could be working so hard for them. Fallen leaves aren’t the enemy. They’re part of the cycle. Work with them, not against them! And if you’re unsure, especially if you’ve got large trees, diseased leaves, or drainage issues, please just call us. We’ll help you figure out what to do with fallen leaves the smart way.