I’ll be honest—there’s a certain beauty in watching leaves drift down on a crisp October morning. Until, of course, you realize your yard is buried under a foot of them and your rake is still bent from last year.
Last fall, I thought I’d be clever and “wait until they all fall” before cleaning them up. Two snowstorms later, I had a matted mess of wet, frozen leaves plastered across my lawn. By spring, I had yellow patches and the kind of moldy turf you wouldn’t wish on your worst neighbor.
Why You Can’t Just Let Leaves Sit
Here’s the thing: those colorful leaves might look charming, but once they pile up, they start suffocating your lawn. No sun, no airflow, and trapped moisture—basically a fungal Airbnb under there. And in Denver, where shady spots and low-lying yards are common, this is a real problem.
You’ll end up with dead spots, lawn diseases like snow mold, and a patchy mess once the snow melts. It’s not just about neatness—it’s about preventing damage you’ll have to fix later.
Smarter (Not Harder) Leaf Removal
Back in the day, I’d spend hours raking by hand. Now? I work smarter. A mulching mower is my go-to—especially when the leaves are dry. It chops them into fine bits that break down and feed the lawn naturally.
If you do prefer the old-school rake, use one with flexible tines and wait until things dry out. Raking wet leaves not only damages your grass, it also does a number on your back.
And here’s a pro tip: don’t rake in the same pattern every time. Varying your motion prevents grass damage underneath and saves you a future trip to the chiropractor.
Prep Your Lawn Before It Freezes
Once the bulk of leaves are handled, give your lawn a fighting chance before winter:
Aerate the soil to help roots breathe and absorb nutrients.
Fertilize with a fall-specific formula to support root strength.
Mow one last time—not too short—to reduce snow mold buildup.
I always aim to finish this before Halloween. Denver weather can turn on a dime, and once the ground starts to freeze, it’s game over for lawn prep.
Want to Skip the Hassle?
Trust me, I’ve learned the hard way that fall lawn care is one of those “do it now or regret it later” tasks. If you’d rather enjoy your weekends without a rake in hand, we’ve got you covered.
At BNB, we offer complete fall maintenance packages—leaf removal, aeration, fertilization, and more—so your yard heads into winter healthy and hassle-free.
