The owner of Carmel Landscapes, a sustainable landscaping company in Northeast Ohio, explores the science and experience of how autumn leaves affect the health of our ecosystem.
So, what should you do with your leaves?
- Why the “leave them or blow them” debate matters for your landscape
- The science behind how leaves benefit soil health
- The real risks of leaving leaves on your lawn
- How professional on-site leaf processing protects both your turf and the ecosystem
- What Northeast Ohio homeowners should consider this fall
The beauty of fall in Northeast Ohio
Fall is such a beautiful time in Northeast Ohio, especially in villages like Chagrin Falls and Burton that are deemed qualifiers by the Arbor Day Foundation for the Tree City USA program based on their commitment to planting and improving trees in public spaces. All the colors of nature explode in the treetops with reds and oranges reminding us to put on our sweaters and plan for the last bon fires of the season.
Some of the best photography happens this time of year as hobbyists and professionals alike endeavor to find the perfect spot to point their cameras toward the changing leaves throughout the Chagrin Valley landscape, capturing some of mother nature’s most memorable scenes. Neatly manicured lawns throughout the valley will soon lay victim to the fallen leaves that float down from their towering summer homes of majestic trees swaying in the brisk wind, softly landing in the blades of grass creating a colorful garnish.
Some relish in the freshly painted landscape while others dread grabbing their rake. I encourage our clients and anyone else who’s reading this to look past the cleanup phase and breathe it all in. Remember to be thankful for the natural beauty this time of year brings. Soon enough, winter will arrive with lake effect blizzards in Northeast Ohio’s snowbelt (side note: don’t forget to plan for plow season).
As a young landscaper I thought it was so neat to vacuum and blow the leaves from the turf. Watching them soar across backyards became therapeutic to me, and I’m sure it does to so many other landscapers and homeowners. Fortunately, we grow everyday shaping our current understanding to create more comprehensive plans, building out a broader focus for a wider scope.
The debate: leave them or blow them?
There is some debate about how to handle leaves on the lawn, however. So, instead of picking a side we’ll look at the science of leaves and analyze some of the most popular arguments. This allows us to develop our approach based on the available facts and firsthand experiences. We do love our historical data and site history software, after all.
As a sustainable landscaping company offering a huge scope of outdoor services and solutions, we look at the big picture of fall leaf removal. Hint: the ideal process blends these two schools of thought.
Leave them (every pun intended)
Most hobbyists and gardeners will make this argument. But I think there is a big disconnect on what we are leaving them on.
Our own data and observation shows leaving the leaves in landscape beds is a win. At first glance may seem unsightly and careless, but the big picture says the benefits are clear.
Leaving the unprocessed leaf litter in the lawn area, however, proves to be deadly to the existing turf.
Hobbyists, gardeners and some landscapers will make a secondary argument that the leaves provide a home for the local critters that seek refuge for the winter months. I support this outcome as we are an eco-friendly company, and science behind decaying leaves is hard to refute.
Naturally decaying leaves don’t provide a significant source of nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium. They do provide, however, an enormous amount of carbon as they decay. Carbon as we know it is THE essential building block of life. Without it there is no life. This carbon is introduced back into the soil, and microorganisms and funguses alike go to town breaking down the organic matter enhancing the soils creating what we call the carbon cycle.
The takeaway: leaves in beds are healthy for the ecosystem, but still need to be processed with intent.
Rake, vac and blow them
A lot of landscapers will argue “leaf damage” will ruin your lawn if you leave them. I won’t argue that leaving leaves on the lawn will inevitably smother the turf, but it can lead to undesirable outcomes. Leaf removal from many landscapers is a booming business, so I’m sympathetic to the process, also a cleanly swept lawn does look rather stately.
Expounding on our disconnect between arguments, it’s fair to say there are many companies that just do lawn service. In my opinion that’s not landscaping, that’s mowing lawns and lawn care. But, were looking at the big picture, remember?
So, getting back to the primary argument of leaving leaves, the disconnect is where I think the argument comes from. Even though blowing and vacuuming leaves has its benefits and provides a clean, stately outcome, let’s look at the method. The drawback of total leaf removal from lawn turf is removal of carbon from the soils that were there in the first place, but have depleted with growth, reducing microbe population in the soils resulting in less healthy landscape.
The takeaway: it’s more complicated than simply “leave them or blow them.”
Our approach: on-site leaf processing
Here’s the truth: as professional landscape specialists, we understand that your property’s ecosystem matters. By processing leaves on-site rather than removing them entirely, we’re able to:
- Maintain the carbon cycle that keeps your soil healthy
- Protect your turf from the smothering effects of whole leaves
- Reduce waste hauled off your property
- Support the local critters that depend on leaf litter for winter shelter
- Create a clean, professional appearance while preserving soil health
This approach reflects our commitment to sustainable landscaping practices that work with nature rather than against it.
Making the right choice for your property
The decision about how to handle fall leaves doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Understanding both the benefits and the risks helps us create solutions tailored to your specific landscape needs.
Whether you have expansive lawns that need protection from leaf damage, garden beds that will benefit from natural leaf mulch, or a combination of both, the key is working with professionals who understand the science behind the seasons.
Carmel Landscapes specializes in sustainable landscape care throughout Northeast Ohio, including responsible leaf processing that protects both your property and the environment. Contact us to discuss your fall cleanup needs and discover how we can help maintain a healthy, beautiful landscape through every season.
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Carmel Landscapes is seeking motivated, skilled workers to join our team. Skilled laborers are needed for our high-end hardscape projects. Horticulture and landscape technicians are needed to help design, plant and maintain our sustainable, eco-friendly projects.
We value hard work, craftsmanship and an eye for detail, offering competitive pay and full-time employees enjoy benefits and PTO.