Best Steps To Do A Fall Clean-Up

Doing a fall clean-up is a job that many people do themselves. Other people pay an experienced lawn care company to come out and do it for them. Either way, here are the correct steps to take to make any fall clean-up look professional. 

1. Cut back perennials.

When KG Landscape does our fall clean-ups, we cut back all flowering small plants except grasses. We cut the grasses back in the spring so there is still some winter interest. You can also cut back roses and hydrangeas at this time if they are getting a little scruffy.   

A lawn covered in fallen leaves, with a strip of green grass and a black trash can. A wooden fence and houses are in the background.

2. Blow leaves out of plant beds

Blowing out the leaves has a few different benefits. With all the leaves gone, the plant beds in the spring will look fresh and clean when plants come back in. Leaving a lot of debris around plants can stunt their growth. 

Two compost bins filled with leaves in a backyard with a shed, fence, and green lawn.

3. Turn your mower to the mulching setting.

Then mulch the lawn at least 2 times in opposite directions. Mulching the leaves reduces the size of the debris so you don’t have to bag up as often. A standard yard should be able to fit all mulched material into 2 garbage cans instead of 25+ bags of straight leaves. 

4. Turn your mower to the bagging setting and bag the mulched debris

Lots of very small pieces of leaves won’t be sucked up and can be left as fertilizer on the lawn. If you have sandy or clay soil, the small leaf pieces are a big boost of organic material so leaving some is not a big deal.

If you don’t like how it looks with some mulch debris left in the lawn, you can simply use a blower to do a final detailed cleanup at the end. 

Hire an experienced lawn care company to do your fall clean-up

KG Landscape is a lawn care and landscape company that knows how to do the job right the first time. We’ve got over 15 years of lawn care and leaf clean-up under our belt and are ready to do them for your home or business. It’s easy to get set up, just give us a call or fill out our quote form. We’ll be out to get your lawn looking in tip top shape in no time. 

Ready to Start on Your Next Project?

Call us at (763) 568-7251 or visit our quote page.

A restored wale and berm in Shoreview
By Daniel . • July 9, 2026
Learn how KG Landscape restored a backyard swale in Shoreview, MN, fixing drainage issues. Contact us for expert landscaping solutions!
A landscape showing a lawn with freshly dug trenches and a curved dirt path leading toward two dark buildings by a lake.
By Kent Gliadon • July 9, 2026
Learn how KG Landscape solved a waterlogged yard issue in Orono, MN. Contact us for eco-friendly drainage solutions today!
Power borrow dumping organic soil
By Kent Gliadon • June 10, 2026
Can you use compost as lawn fertilizer in Minnesota? Learn how compost feeds turf, how to apply it, and where it fits. Get a free quote.
Overseeding organic soil on a lawn in Minnesota.
By Kent Gliadon • June 9, 2026
Organic weed control for Minnesota lawns: what works, what doesn't, and how to manage weeds without harsh chemicals. Get a quote.
Lawn with fresh organic topdressing.
By Kent Gliadon • June 7, 2026
Keep your lawn and your pets safe. Pet-safe lawn care tips for Minnesota yards, from products to timing. Get a free quote.
Organic Compost being distributed over lawn.
By Kent Gliadon • June 6, 2026
Looking for the best organic lawn fertilizer in Minnesota? See top options, how they feed your turf, and what KG uses. Get a quote.
Spreading organic compost on Twin Cities lawn.
By Kent Gliadon • June 3, 2026
Is compost a fertilizer? Learn what compost does for your Minnesota lawn, how it differs from fertilizer, and when to use it. Get a quote.
completed organic top soil on lawn
By Kent Gliadon • June 1, 2026
Compost feeds the soil, fertilizer feeds the grass. Learn which your Minnesota lawn needs, when to use each, and how to apply both. Get a quote.
Cart tipping organic topsoil.
By Kent Gliadon • May 30, 2026
Eco-friendly lawn care tips for Twin Cities yards: cut chemicals, save water, and build healthy soil naturally. Get a free quote.
Providing topdressing to lawn in Minnesota.
By Kent Gliadon • May 27, 2026
Simple, proven lawn care tips for Minnesota yards: mowing, watering, feeding, and building healthy soil that lasts. Get a free quote.