Fall Yard Cleanup: What to Do First

Fall cleanup is not just raking for appearances. Leaves left in thick mats smother turf, and unfinished beds become weed pressure next spring.

Clear leaves from lawn areas regularly, cut back perennials once they finish, and empty debris from drainage paths before hard freezes. If your lawn thinned over summer, fall is still one of the best windows for overseeding in many climates.

A focused fall pass now means less spring chaos — and a yard that greens up more evenly when the season turns.