Get matched with top brush chipping pros in Independence, IA

If you don’t have too many fallen leaves, one option is to leave them in place. They’ll eventually decompose, adding vital nutrients to the soil. But if you have a thick layer of leaves smothering your lawn, you’ll want to either mulch them or bag them up for removal. If you choose to collect and bag your leaves, check with your local municipality on any specific guidelines to dispose of them. Many cities offer curbside pickup if the leaves are disposed of in yard waste bags or containers. 

Several tools exist that can help remove unwanted grass. The one you choose depends greatly on how much you need to remove and how hard you'd like to work. A sod or turf cutter is the fastest method while using a shovel is labor-intensive and much slower. You may also need a garden rake, tiller, and wheelbarrow. 

While you don’t need to put anything down before mulch, you can apply a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent weed growth. As long as you remove weeds before you spread mulch, you should be in the clear. But a herbicide is something that you can put down before mulch as an extra layer of protection.

Leaf removal isn’t usually necessary, and in fact, leaving leaves where they fall or mulching them instead can provide nutrients to your soil that can be good for your lawn and garden beds. Most homeowners prefer the look of a lawn that is neat and clean, though, so the majority of people prefer to pay for leaf removal. There are some cases where you might have to pay for leaf removal, like if you live in a strict homeowners association that mandates the service or a generally clean lawn.