{"id":33412,"date":"2024-10-22T08:36:56","date_gmt":"2024-10-22T08:36:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/?p=33412"},"modified":"2026-09-28T13:32:58","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T13:32:58","slug":"what-happens-when-dont-remove-fallen-leaves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-dont-remove-fallen-leaves\/","title":{"rendered":"What Happens If You Don&#8217;t Remove Fallen Leaves in Your Yard?"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes has-medium-font-size\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>\u2022 <strong>Heavy coverage causes real damage:<\/strong> A thick, wet leaf layer smothers grass, invites disease and pests, and clogs drainage, so it should be cleared or mulched.<br>\u2022 <strong>Light coverage can stay:<\/strong> A scattering of leaves (roughly 20 percent of the lawn) can be left alone, and moderate coverage (about 50 percent) can be mulch-mowed to feed the lawn.<br>\u2022 <strong>Act early and remove diseased leaves: <\/strong>Mow and mulch leaves regularly as they fall instead of waiting for a thick layer to build up, and always remove diseased leaves entirely so spores don&#8217;t spread.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wondering what happens if you don&#8217;t remove fallen leaves in your yard? Leaving leaves on your lawn too long can smother the grass and invite disease, pests, weeds, drainage problems, and even fire hazards.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A thick buildup also hides your landscaping and drags down curb appeal. Below, you&#8217;ll learn exactly how fallen leaves hurt your yard and when it&#8217;s actually fine to leave them where they land.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not up for the work yourself? Lawn Love can help, and you can get a free <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/leaf-removal\">leaf removal estimate<\/a> online in minutes.<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-table-of-contents-block ub_table-of-contents\" id=\"ub_table-of-contents-fb275804-1abe-4509-b75a-6daa1c99ec91\" data-linktodivider=\"false\" data-showtext=\"show\" data-hidetext=\"hide\" data-scrolltype=\"auto\" data-enablesmoothscroll=\"false\" data-initiallyhideonmobile=\"false\" data-initiallyshow=\"true\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header\" style=\"text-align: left; \"> \t\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-title\" style=\"\">In this article:<\/div> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-extra-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-container ub_table-of-contents-1-column\"> \t\t\t\t<ul style=\"\"><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-dont-remove-fallen-leaves\/#0-how-fallen-leaves-hurt-your-yard\" style=\"\">How fallen leaves hurt your yard<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-dont-remove-fallen-leaves\/#7-when-its-ok-to-leave-the-leaves\" style=\"\">When it&#8217;s OK to leave the leaves<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-dont-remove-fallen-leaves\/#8-faqs\" style=\"\">FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>   <h2 id=\"0-how-fallen-leaves-hurt-your-yard\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"how-fallen-leaves-hurt-your-yard\">How fallen leaves hurt your yard<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you don&#8217;t remove fallen leaves, a heavy layer can smother and kill the grass, invite disease and pests, clog drainage, create a fire hazard, and hurt your curb appeal. Here&#8217;s how each problem develops:<\/p>    <h3 id=\"1-create-lawn-health-issues\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"create-lawn-health-issues\">Create lawn health issues<\/span><\/h3>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gray-snow-mold.jpg\" alt=\"gray snow mold fungus on grass\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Wet leaves sitting on grass can trigger fungal diseases like gray snow mold. Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/lawnsciencesm\/30691880274\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kris Lord<\/a> | Flickr | <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fallen leaves can <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/extension.unh.edu\/blog\/2018\/10\/it-absolutely-necessary-rake-leaves-fall-or-can-it-wait-until-spring\">smother your lawn<\/a> by blocking air, sunlight, and water, resulting in weak or dead turf. <\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;The biggest issue is blocking sunlight from reaching the turfgrass,&#8221; says <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.psu.edu\/stephen-campbell\">Stephen Campbell<\/a>, Extension educator at Penn State University. &#8220;Turfgrass still needs sunlight in the fall to produce energy and maintain itself going into winter.&#8221; <\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A heavy, wet layer can also mat the grass down, especially if it stays in place for weeks, Campbell explains.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Besides smothering, as wet leaves sit on the grass, they create a cool, damp environment. According to Campbell, this trapped moisture favors fungal diseases that can lead to turf decline.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some common diseases caused by excess moisture include:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><p><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-gray-snow-mold\/\">Gray snow mold<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-pink-snow-mold\/\">pink snow mold<\/a><\/p><\/li>    <li><p>Leaf spot<\/p><\/li>    <li><p>Brown patch<\/p><\/li>    <li><p>Pythium blight<\/p><\/li>    <li><p>Red thread<\/p><\/li>    <li><p>Dollar spot<\/p><\/li> <\/ul>    <h3 id=\"2-invite-pests\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"invite-pests\">Invite pests<\/span><\/h3>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/rsz_19338004915_45373d1188_c.jpg\" alt=\"Two Japanese beetles on a leaf with holes and damage on the leaf from their eating\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pests like beetles thrive in a thick, wet pile of decomposing leaves. Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/dehill\/9338004915\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">David Hill<\/a> | Flickr | <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The longer you leave fallen leaves in your yard, the higher the risk of a pest infestation. As they break down, leaves can invite any of the following intruders:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><p><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-japanese-beetles\/\">Beetles<\/a><\/p><\/li>    <li><p>Ants<\/p><\/li>    <li><p>Centipedes<\/p><\/li>    <li><p>Spiders<\/p><\/li>    <li><p><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-do-you-get-rid-of-termites-in-your-yard\/\">Termites<\/a><\/p><\/li>    <li><p>Cockroaches<\/p><\/li>    <li><p>Earwigs<\/p><\/li>    <li><p>Slugs and snails<\/p><\/li>    <li><p>Rodents<\/p><\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pests are drawn to fallen and decomposing leaves for these reasons:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><p>Leaves hold moisture, attracting insects that prefer damp environments.<\/p><\/li>    <li><p>As they break down, leaves turn into organic matter that many insects like to feed on.<\/p><\/li>    <li><p>The thicker the leaf pile is, the more pests are drawn to it. It provides cover from predators and protection from wind and sunlight.<\/p><\/li> <\/ul>    <h3 id=\"3-create-an-environment-for-weed-growth\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"create-an-environment-for-weed-growth\">Create an environment for weed growth<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A thick layer of leaves covers the soil and creates a moist environment ideal for <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-control-weeds-by-type\/\">weed seeds<\/a>. It protects any emerging seedlings from being disturbed or consumed by wildlife.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Weeds spread quickly and compete with your grass for sunlight, nutrients, and water. This can weaken the grass and make it more difficult to maintain a healthy lawn. Not removing leaves can help weeds spread and create bigger infestations next season.<\/p>    <h3 id=\"4-cause-drainage-problems\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"cause-drainage-problems\">Cause drainage problems<\/span><\/h3>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/rsz_29916775424_6457459895_c.jpg\" alt=\"Standing water\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Clear leaves from yard drains and gutters to prevent standing water from building up in your yard. Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/mikecogh\/29916775424\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Michael<\/a> | Flickr | <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another issue you may encounter if you don&#8217;t remove fallen leaves is <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/lawn-drainage-solutions\/\">drainage<\/a> problems. These include:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><p><strong>Clogged yard drains:<\/strong> When leaves pile up in yard drains, they block water flow to the lawn or garden. Water then pools around the blockage, damaging nearby plants, flooding parts of the yard, eroding soil, and causing mud.<\/p><\/li>    <li><p><strong>Driveway damage:<\/strong> If standing water reaches your driveway, it can cause asphalt deterioration, such as cracks or structural issues.<\/p><\/li>    <li><p><strong>Safety risks:<\/strong> As surface water builds up due to poor drainage, it can become a nuisance or slipping hazard, especially in colder climates where it can freeze.<\/p><\/li>    <li><p><strong>Mosquitoes:<\/strong> Stagnant water can also attract <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-mosquitoes-in-yard\/\">mosquitoes<\/a>, increasing the risk of disease and making time outdoors unpleasant.<\/p><\/li>    <li><p><strong>Municipal water problems:<\/strong> Excess leaves and debris can cause street clogs and large-scale flooding, and they can contaminate water supply systems if they carry organic matter or toxins.<\/p><\/li>    <li><p><strong>Clogged gutters:<\/strong> When leaves pile up in gutters, water can&#8217;t flow away from your roof and foundation. As it overflows, it can cause leaks and water damage inside your home.<\/p><\/li> <\/ul>    <h3 id=\"5-create-fire-hazards\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"create-fire-hazards\">Create fire hazards<\/span><\/h3>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/AdobeStock_300998577-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Seasonal raking of leaves in the yard, putting leaves in a bag\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Piles of dry leaves are a fire hazard. Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/jo\/images\/seasonal-raking-of-leaves-in-the-garden-concept-of-cleaning-and-caring-for-the-garden-man-rakes-withered-and-colorful-leaves-in-the-garden-autumn-cleaning-before-winter-spring-cleaning-garden\/300998577?asset_id=300998577\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sebastian<\/a> | Adobe Stock Free | <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/license-terms\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Large piles of dry leaves are a serious fire risk, especially in drought or windy conditions. Once ignited, they can catch fire and spread quickly from one pile to another.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A fire can easily ignite wooden siding, roofing, decks, fences, outdoor furniture, or sheds. Leaves stuck in your gutters, for example, can put your home at risk if they catch embers from a nearby <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-create-fire-resistant-landscaping\/\">wildfire<\/a>.<\/p>    <h3 id=\"6-reduce-curb-appeal\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"reduce-curb-appeal\">Reduce curb appeal<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In real estate, how your home looks matters if you&#8217;re trying to sell.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If leaves cover your yard, they can hide beautiful landscaping features such as your <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/guide-greener-grass\/\">lush, green lawn<\/a>, flower beds, shrubs, and other decorative elements. It could make buyers think the home isn&#8217;t properly maintained.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well-kept landscaping can raise a home&#8217;s <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pubs.ext.vt.edu\/426\/426-087\/426-087.html\">perceived home value<\/a> by 10 percent to 12 percent when upgraded from average to excellent, so a leaf-covered lawn works against you at resale.<\/p>    <h2 id=\"7-when-its-ok-to-leave-the-leaves\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"when-its-ok-to-leave-the-leaves\">When it&#8217;s OK to leave the leaves<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You don&#8217;t always have to clear every leaf. What matters is how much of the lawn is covered and how thick the layer gets. <\/p>    <figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Leaf coverage<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>What you&#8217;ll see<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>What to do<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Light (about 20 percent)<\/td><td>Plenty of grass still visible<\/td><td>Leave them; they break down and feed the soil<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Moderate (about 50 percent)<\/td><td>Grass partly covered<\/td><td>Mulch-mow to shred leaves into the canopy<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Heavy (grass barely visible)<\/td><td>Thick, matted blanket<\/td><td>Remove at least half, then mulch or mow the rest<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/hort.extension.wisc.edu\/leave-the-leaves-to-rake-or-not-to-rake\/\">University of Wisconsin-Madison<\/a><\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;The most common mistake is waiting until leaves have accumulated into a thick layer before doing anything,&#8221; Campbell says. &#8220;The leaves themselves are not necessarily a problem.&#8221;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, Campbell recommends mowing regularly while leaves are falling. Finely chopped leaves settle into the turf canopy and break down, adding organic matter and returning nutrients like nitrogen to the lawn. <\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere is generally no need to collect the leaves as long as they are being adequately chopped and incorporated into the turf.\u201d<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remove <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/hort.extension.wisc.edu\/leave-the-leaves-to-rake-or-not-to-rake\/\">diseased leaves<\/a> entirely, because they can spread fungal spores to next year&#8217;s growth. If you mulch leaves every fall, keep an eye on your lawn&#8217;s thatch layer and aerate when needed.<\/p>    <h2 id=\"8-faqs\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"faqs\">FAQs<\/span><\/h2>    <div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-17905834128667351\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can you compost fallen leaves?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes. Fallen leaves are excellent carbon-rich compost material, so shred them with a lawn mower first, then layer them with green material like grass clippings.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-17905834128664406\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Do you need to remove leaves from garden beds too?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Usually not. A light layer of shredded leaves works as free winter mulch in beds, but keep whole, matted leaves off plant stems and crowns and remove any diseased leaves.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-17905834128662478\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What should I do if leaves regularly block my gutters?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Clean your gutters at least twice a year, and more often if trees hang overhead. Adding gutter guards and downspout extensions also helps keep water flowing away from your roof and foundation.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>    <h2 id=\"9-a-local-pro-can-help\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"a-local-pro-can-help\">A local pro can help<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re not a fan of leaf removal, Lawn Love can connect you with a <a href=\"https:\/\/signup-web.lawnlove.com\/cart\/contact-info?intent=leafRemoval\">local leaf removal professional<\/a> who can do it for you. They can also handle disposal, and professional leaf removal typically runs $79 to $326 per visit, with <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/leaf-removal-cost\/\">leaf removal cost<\/a> varying by yard size and tree count.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plus, a local lawn care expert can offer guidance and help with <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/lawn-aeration\">aeration<\/a>, dethatching, <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/weed-control\">weed control<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/lawn-fertilization\">fertilization<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/lawn-seeding\">seeding<\/a>.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Main Image Credit: Fallen yellow leaves over grass in a park | <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/fallen-yellow-leaves-lay-over-grass-in-park\/220099303?asset_id=220099303\">evannovostro<\/a> | Adobe Stock Free | <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/license-terms\">License<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Leaving leaves on your lawn too long can smother grass and invite disease, pests, and drainage issues. Learn the harms and when it&#8217;s OK to leave them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":98,"featured_media":33417,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1237],"tags":[147,378],"class_list":["post-33412","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leaf-removal","tag-lawn-care","tag-leaf-removal"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/AdobeStock_220099303-2.jpeg","author_info":{"display_name":"Andie Io\u00f3","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/andie-ioo\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33412","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/98"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33412"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33412\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49320,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33412\/revisions\/49320"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33412"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33412"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33412"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}