Every autumn the same question comes up: should leaves be raked up or left on the lawn? You can find both recommendations online, but our 10+ years of experience maintaining gardens across Harju County gives a clear answer.
Why shouldn't leaves be left on the lawn?
In recent years it has become popular to recommend leaving leaves as natural fertilizer. It sounds good in theory, but in Estonia's climate it mostly doesn't work: most leaves are still there in spring, in exactly the same shape, after the snow melts. The grass under the leaves has suffocated from lack of oxygen over winter and been damaged by moisture — the damage is often so severe that spring starts with lawn restoration, which costs considerably more than autumn cleanup.
The exception is a few spots with a thin layer of leaves, which can be finely mulched with a mower. A thick layer of leaves must always be cleared.
When is the right time to clear leaves?
The best time is from October until the end of November, once most leaves have fallen but before permanent snow cover. You can't catch every leaf in one go — a practical rhythm is two cleanups: the first in mid-October and the second just before the snow arrives.
Don't forget hard surfaces either: wet leaves make walkways, patios and steps slippery and leave stains on stone.
Where should the leaves go?
A small amount fits in the compost, but a typical home garden's leaf volume quickly exceeds compost capacity. Garden waste must not be dumped in the forest or burned in densely populated areas — the right place is a waste facility. With our service, removal is simple: we load the leaves up and everything we collect goes to a waste facility.
When is it worth ordering the service?
If the plot is large, there are many leaves, or time is short, a professional team gets it done quickly: our equipment can clear anything from a small home yard to a large park. Leaf collection costs from 0.15 €/m² (minimum fee 150 €) and combines conveniently with the last autumn mowing. We serve all of Harju County — from Tallinn to Viimsi, Rae, Harku and Saue.
Related services
Leaf collection & removal
We rake or blow leaves into piles, clean lawns, paths, and bed edges, load the leaves, and take them to a waste facility if removal is ordered.
Spring and autumn garden cleanup
We go through the garden, rake thatch and leaves, cut back plants that need care, loosen soil where needed, and leave the garden ready for the season.
