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While there’s no exact science to how often you should rake your leaves, a good rule of thumb to follow is to rake leaves every three to four days. However, you can rake more often or less often, depending on how quickly leaves are accumulating on your lawn.

Cut your lawn a bit shorter before the winter, typically between 2 and 2½ inches, depending on the variety of grass. On average, the best height to cut grass typically falls between 2 and 3 inches throughout the year. Aim for the shorter side of this range when you mow for the last time of the year to avoid common winter lawn diseases and moisture issues.

In most municipalities, lawn care and mowing companies require at least a business license to operate legally. However, requirements can vary by location, and some areas mandate that landscaping companies be licensed, insured, and bonded, or even hold a general contractor license. Before hiring any lawn service, confirm they are fully insured. This protects you from liability for injuries on your property and also protects the company's employees. You can use Angi's state license lookup tool to verify a company's licensing status in your area.

If you notice your grass is growing quickly and it’s hard to keep up, cut down on how much you water and fertilize it. Another helpful method is to mow the grass at the highest setting your mower will allow. Mowing at a higher setting slows grass growth since the blades won’t need to repair themselves as quickly if they’re kept at a longer length.