Leaves are a common sight on lawns in Oregon during the fall season, bringing with it the hassle of cleaning them up. But can they actually be beneficial if you leave them? The answer is yes! As they decompose, they release nutrients into your soil, which your grass can use to fortify its health and strength. However, too many leaves defeat the purpose and can be detrimental to its well-being, as they block essential resources like sunlight, water, and air from reaching your grass. So, if there are only a few leaves on your lawn, don't worry about them. On the other hand, if there are large piles of leaves, you should remove them before winter arrives to ensure your lawn stays healthy.

Leaves Can Be Beneficial to Your Lawn

While leaves can be unsightly and a hassle to deal with during the fall, they can actually be beneficial for the health of your lawn. That's because leaves contain valuable nutrients and organic material, meaning they can serve as a natural fertilizer! When leaves fall onto your lawn, they begin to decompose. As they break down, they release these nutrients into your soil, which your grass can then absorb and use to grow strong and healthy. By leaving a few leaves on your lawn, you can give it a nutrient boost before winter dormancy without having to do anything extra.

Too many leaves can be detrimental to your lawn.

Colorful leaves across a yard in Portland, OR.

While a few scattered leaves can be beneficial for your lawn, too many of them can be detrimental and defeat the purpose. That's because large piles of leaves can smother your grass and block essential resources, such as sunlight, water, and air, from reaching it. Without access to these resources, your grass will struggle and become weaker.

What's more, large piles of leaves can also create an environment for turf diseases and insects to thrive. After all, they cultivate dark conditions and trap moisture underneath, which is appealing to various types of pests and conducive to disease development. As a result, your lawn can become infested with pests or infected with a disease, which could cause serious damage and severely impact its ability to survive winter stress.

What should you do if there are just a few leaves on your lawn versus a lot?

When it comes to leaves on your lawn, the amount matters. If there are only a few leaves scattered across it, you don't need to worry about them. Instead, you can let them decompose over time and release nutrients into your soil, which will benefit your grass. However, if there are large piles of leaves on your lawn, you should remove them before winter arrives. The winter season can be tough on your turf, and the last thing you want is leaf piles threatening it before going dormant. By removing large piles of leaves, you can help ensure your grass stays healthy throughout the winter season.

You can hire professionals to remove leaves from your lawn to save yourself the hassle of doing it on your own!

Contact Us Today to Sign Up for Our Leaf Removal Service

If you want to keep your lawn free of leaves in the fall without having to lift a finger, we are the company to call. At J&C Lawn Care, we offer a leaf removal service that involves blowing or raking leaves from your lawn and landscape beds into a pile. Then, we'll utilize tarps and bins to haul them away for you! Our leaf removal service is offered to residential and commercial property owners in Portland, Gresham, Beaverton, Happy Valley, and surrounding areas in Oregon. Give us a call at (971) 284-2035 to sign up today!