Spring & Fall Yard Cleanups
Spring and Fall Cleanups That Set Your Lawn Up for the Season Ahead
Spring and fall cleanups bookend the growing season. In spring we clear winter debris, cut back and edge beds, and uncover the lawn so it can start growing, and in fall we remove leaves over several visits so they don't smother the grass under snow.
Schedules fill quickly in both seasons, so it's worth calling early.
Spring Cleanup
The right time for spring cleanup is once the ground has thawed and dried enough to walk on without leaving footprints, typically late March into April. Working too early compacts saturated soil and can damage perennials already pushing up new growth. Waiting too long leaves matted leaves blocking light and holding moisture, which encourages disease and thin patches.
- Leaves, branches and winter debris cleared from the lawn and beds
- Perennials and ornamental grasses cut back
- Dead and winter-damaged growth removed from shrubs
- Bed edges cut and redefined
- Light raking of matted lawn areas
- A check for winter damage, from salt burn and vole trails to frost-heaved plants
- All debris hauled away
Leaving Some Cover for Beneficial Insects
Perennial stems and leaf litter shelter beneficial insects through the winter. A good balance is clearing the lawn and front beds first, and leaving back beds and grasses for another couple of weeks. It costs nothing extra and supports a healthier garden.
What the Winter Left Behind
Spring cleanup is also a chance to check for winter damage. Salt along driveways and roads shows as browning on the road-facing side of evergreens, and where it happens every year, more salt-tolerant plants are the better long-term answer. Snow breakage on evergreens needs corrective pruning, covered under tree and shrub care. Vole trails appear as winding paths in the lawn once the snow melts and are usually cosmetic, though heavier damage may need overseeding. Frost can also push shallow-rooted perennials partly out of the ground, and they need to be pressed back in before the roots dry out.
What Comes Next in Spring
Cleanup opens the season, and the rest follows in order: bed edging and mulching once the soil warms, the first fertilizer application, irrigation startup and the first mow.
Fall Cleanup and Leaf Removal
Leaves left on a lawn over the winter pack down into a mat under snow. The grass underneath can't grow, stays wet all winter and is prone to snow mold, and by April the result is dead patches in the shape of where the leaves sat.
Leaf drop runs from early October through late November, and oaks hold their leaves well after everything else. That's why we plan two or three visits, with the final one after the last major drop.
- Leaf removal from the lawn, beds and hard surfaces across multiple visits
- Perennials cut back where appropriate
- Diseased foliage cleared so problems don't carry over
- A final mow at the right height for winter
- Drains and catch basins cleared of leaves
- All debris hauled away
What Gets Cut and What Stays
Anything that had disease during the season is cut back and removed, since fungal problems survive the winter on the debris. Many other plants are better left standing: seed heads feed birds, hollow stems shelter beneficial insects, and ornamental grasses give the garden structure from December through March.
Setting the Property Up for Winter
The final mow should be slightly shorter than the summer height, since long grass mats under snow and grass cut too short exposes the crown to cold. Clearing catch basins and drain grates prevents standing water during the first heavy rain or thaw, and fall is the right time to confirm downspouts and drainage lines are flowing properly.
Common Questions
When should spring cleanup happen?
Once the ground is dry enough to work on, usually late March into April. Weather can shift it by two or three weeks from year to year.
Is mulch included in spring cleanup?
Mulch is priced separately and goes down after cleanup, once the soil has warmed.
How many fall cleanup visits does a property need?
Two or three for most properties, with the last after the oaks have finished dropping. Heavily wooded lots may need more.
Can leaves just be mulched into the lawn?
In modest amounts, yes, and it's good for the soil. On properties with heavy leaf cover, there are simply too many, and the chopped layer will still smother the grass.
When is the last fall cleanup?
Typically late November into early December, once the last leaves are down and before the snow arrives.
How long does a cleanup take?
A typical property takes about a day. Larger properties, or ones that weren't cleaned up the previous season, take longer.