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What to do With Your Leaves in Fall
This fall, don’t let leaves destroy your yard. These pros are here to help.
Written by Ettie Berneking
Nov 2016
Leaves are one of fall’s richest beauties and biggest headaches. They’re gorgeous on your trees but quickly clutter up your yard and manage to sneak inside your home. They get crumbled in your shoes, hitch a ride on your clothes and hide in your entryway until you break out the rake. We’ve rounded up some pros to help you handle this season’s foliage.
Where To Haul Them
Yardwaste Recycling Center
Location: 3790 S Farm Rd. 119, Brookline, 417-864-1904, springfieldmo.gov
Cost: $5 per vehicle
Tip: Located just southwest of Springfield, the Yardwaste Recycling Center is the only location in town where residential yard waste is accepted. So next time you’re wondering what to do with those trash bags full of leaves, just haul them out here. While you’re here, be sure to pick up mulch for all those mums you’ve planted.
Who Can Rake Them
Location: 4319 S. National Ave., #150, Springfield, 417-724-0318, 417-724-0318
Cost: Prices vary but start at $90
Tip: Rotting leaves are acid. As they break down and decompose, they can kill your grass, which is why it’s important to rake them up and haul them off. Depending on the size of your yard and the number of trees, Nixa Lawn Service suggests scheduling one leaf removal session at the beginning of fall and another at the end of the season.
How To Compost Them
Sustainable By Nature
Location: Springfield, 417-413-3488, sustainablebynature.com
Cost: Price varies, but consultations are free
Tip: Composting dead leaves creates rich, healthy soil. Hire the team at Sustainable By Nature to set up a three-system compost bin for you, or tackle this on your own. Make sure you have two parts carbon (dead leaves) and one part nitrogen (food scraps). Your compost needs air and moisture, so turn it once a week and you should have healthy material to add to your garden in two months.
