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There are several ways to decompose yard waste quickly. The first step is to move all debris into a compost bin or pile. From there, microorganisms, bacteria, and insects will break down the yard waste into compost. To speed things up, shred the waste into smaller pieces, add live worms to the pile, or introduce nitrogen-rich compost accelerators like grass clippings, coffee grounds, and manure. Turn the compost over every few days. This process, called aerating, allows oxygen to get in and accelerate decomposition.

While a river may seem safer than the street, blowing leaves into the water can cause a lot of problems. Leaves can alter the local ecosystem, encourage bad algae growth and block narrow waterways. In large numbers, leaf debris can lead to fish death events in nearby bays or lakes and require expensive dredging to address. That’s why many cities also ban blowing leaves into water.

You can choose between weekly leaf removal services throughout the fall or a single cleanup at the end of the season. If you want to maintain a pristine lawn, weekly service is a good idea to keep up with falling leaves. Alternatively, if you prioritize saving money, you can wait until all or most of the trees on your property are bare and pay for a one-time service. In most areas, this is typically in early to mid-November. While a single service is more budget-friendly, your yard will not remain leaf-free for the entire season.

A standard home lawn mower with sharp blades can handle a thin layer of leaves without issue. You may need to make a couple of passes within several days to mulch leaves down, but your mower shouldn’t struggle. If your mower comes with a mulching kit, like an attachment to blow leaves out the side, that’s a good sign it’s ready for fall leaves. Set your mower to the highest or near-highest height for this project so it focuses on the leaves rather than the grass below.