This article on Home Living Handbook might contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link on the site, we may earn a commission.
Fall is a beautiful season, but leaf cleanup is not our favorite thing about living in a wooded community. Between manual raking, Cyclone Raking, using mulching blades and leaf blowers, a lot of work goes into maintaining a yard in October and November.
Why do we bother? For overall lawn health.
Even when chopped up with a lawn mower, dry leaves can become a breeding ground for insects or lawn fungus. And once moisture sets in, this layer of leaves can rot, causing a foul smell and alter soil conditions.
Pine needles can also pose a problem. They affect soil fertility if left unattended.
If you’re debating between another DIY yard clean-up year or hiring a landscaping company for leaf removal, let us help you break it down:
Average Cost of Leaf Cleanup
Professional landscapers generally base their leaf removal cost on lawn size (by acre or square foot), the amount of leaves, time of year, and the method used to remove them. The exact cost for professional leaf removal services may fluctuate seasonly and with geographic location:
- Small yards (up to ¼ acre): $100 to $300 for a one-time service
- Medium yards (¼ to ½ acre): $250 to $400.
- Large yards (½ acre lawn or more): $400 to $600+, but costs for leaf removal increase with complexity of the property.
If a company charges by an hourly rate, it will typically range from $45 to $75 per hour. Larger properties with large a volume of leaves may take several hours—or even multiple days—to clean up.
If you're interested in ongoing maintenance, some companies offer seasonal flat rate packages that range from $500 to $1,000, and include a range of services.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Lawn Cleanup
- Yard size: Your property dictates the price range. Larger yards require more labor, time, and equipment, which increases the cost.
- Removal method: Yard clean-up services will use leaf blowers and leaf vacuums. Many will offer to haul away using a leaf loader, but some will also offer to mulch the leaves and leave them to make nutrient-rich soil in your compost heap. (Yes, do this if you can!)
- Frequency of service: A one-time charge for leaf removal is usually more expensive than if they company is also hired for additional services like lawn aeration, spring cleanup, brush pile removal, and regular maintenance.
- Type of trees and tree density: Yards with lots of trees, particularly deciduous trees like maples, tend to drop a lot of leaves. Larger trees and associated leaf volume will be reflected in the landscaping company's clean-up costs.
- Landscape features: If the landscape notices complex features like flower beds, vegetable garden, hills, or water features, the estimate could reflect extra time.
- Gutter cleaning: Many companies offer gutter cleaning or gutter guard maintenance as an add-on, where the typical cost ranges from $50 to $200 depending on the size of your home. This additional cost is usually billed by linear feet of gutters, but as an add-on it might come out as less.
- Expertise: The range for yard cleanup pricing takes the job quality into account. Consider if you just need to clear your yard of leaves or if you'd also benefit from additional services like tree pruning, a winterizing lawn care package, and clearing garden rubbish.
DIY vs. Hire a Pro
DIY Leaf Removal
Pros:
- Saves money on labor costs
- Can be a fun outdoor activity for families (if you're quiet, you can hear my kids laughing)
- Offers flexibility to work at your own pace
- Good exercise
Cons:
- Time-consuming; can take a couple of weekends for an average yard
- Requires bagging or hauling leaves to a dump site or curb
- Lawn vacuum systems are an investment (and usually require a riding lawn mower)
- Disposal fees could apply for yard waste (check your waste management service)
- Can be physically demanding, especially with heavy or wet leaves
- Not always practical if you have acreage
Hiring a Professional Service
Pros:
- Saves time and physical effort
- Includes disposal and clean-up in the service
- Uses efficient equipment like leaf loaders and industrial vacuums
- Can include mulch conversion or composting options
- Often offers bundled discounts with other services (tree pruning, gutter cleaning, stump grinding, lawn aeration)
- Reliable seasonal or annual maintenance if already under a landscaping contract
Cons:
- Higher upfront cost
- Prices vary by yard size and amount of debris
- May need to schedule in advance during busy fall season
- Less control over timing or specific methods used
How can I save money on leaf cleanup when hiring a crew?
- Time your cleanup. Mow over the leaves yourself for the first month. Passing over them a few times will help them disintegrate. When the heavy leaves fall, that's when you should hire a company to help.
- Decline leaf removal if the company charges for take-away. Instead, have them pile the leaves into your compost or an unused garden bed. The leaves will breakdown and you'll be left with nutrient-rich mulch.
- Avoid bagging. Either ask the crew to leave the leaves in one spot on your property, or allow them to vacuum and haul them away.
Am I disturbing pollinators by cleaning up my leaves?
Creating an environment for pollinators is important, but they don't usually nest in leaves that are blowing around your yard. They're more likely to create shelter in underground burrows and inside hollow stems in your perennial garden.
Gathering and relocating leaves to a spot in your yard is better for wildlife than bagging and trashing them, but don't think that you're doing them any favors by ignoring your leaves and allowing them to suffocate your lawn.
