How To Hire a Leaf Removal Service
Leave the raking to the pros this fall
Highlights
A leaf removal service will vacuum, bag, and dispose of leaves in your yard.
You can find a good company either by asking neighbors or exploring online reviews.
Before hiring a company, measure your yard and check the company's qualifications.
Interview the leaf removal service for details about their leaf removal process.
Make sure you draw up a written contract.
Raking and removing leaves from your yard can take up a lot of time and effort. Hiring a leaf removal service lets you enjoy the fall without all the hard work. Use this leaf removal service hiring guide to pick the best pro to clear your yard once the leaves change and start to adorn your lawn.
What Does a Leaf Removal Service Do?
A leaf removal service clears your yard of fallen leaves and other yard debris within a matter of hours. Most companies use high-powered leaf blowers to lift and move every leaf, even out of your yard's hard-to-access nooks and crannies. Some companies may rake instead of using leaf blowers, depending on local regulations and company preference.
With either method, the pros will move all of your leaves to a central location, often at the front of your property, to collect them for removal. They may use a large vacuum to suck up the leaves into a truck or trailer, or they may collect the leaves into bags or barrels for removal. Once all of your leaves are collected, they’ll dispose of them for you in a disposal area or landfill.
Tips for Hiring a Leaf Removal Pro
Before you decide to hire a leaf removal service, you should do a few things to make sure they’re the right company.
1. Take Measurements for Accurate Quotes
How large is the space you need clearing? How often do you want it cleared? You’ll need to answer these questions to get an accurate quote from the company you want to hire. The cost of leaf removal is usually between $200 and $600 per cleanup, although some services charge by the bag rather than by the size of your yard.
2. Check the Company’s Qualifications and References
While you don’t need any special licensing to do leaf removal, it still might be better to get a bonded and insured company in case a worker gets injured for whatever reason. This keeps you from being liable. Also, ask for references from other homeowners who have hired the service to ensure they have satisfied customers.
3. Interview Multiple Leaf Removal Services
Don’t skip this step, as it’s arguably the most important. When you ask questions that are important to you, you may learn what will affect your decision on hiring them that wasn’t obvious to other homeowners.
4. Ask for a Background Check
Whenever you hire someone to work on your property, it’s wise to run a background check, regardless of the type of work they perform.
5. Get a Contract and Arrange Payments
Before hiring a company, the terms of the project should be laid out in a written contract. This contract should spell out the project's scope, how often they’ll be removing leaves, what areas they will clear, and how you’ll make payments. Don’t work with companies that want to stick with verbal agreements.
Questions To Ask a Leaf Removal Pro
To determine if a leaf removal pro is right for you, you need to ask a few specific questions, including:
What is your process for leaf removal?
Do you charge by the bag or by the size of the yard?
How much do you charge?
How many workers do you use?
What tools do you use for removal?
How do you dispose of the leaves?
Can you provide references?
Choosing the Right Leaf Removal Contractor
Picking the right local leaf removal service comes down to your budget, their references, your preference for the removal process, and what works best for your schedule. Asking the right questions of prospective pros will help you narrow down the best match and let you enjoy your lawn without ever picking up a rake.
After Your Leaf Removal Pro Has Finished
Once the service is complete, make your payment using the agreed-upon method. If you’re happy with the service, consider writing an online review or offering to be a reference so you can help other potential customers choose the right pro.
Frequently Asked Questions
It may not be worth it to rake every leaf in your yard, but it’s necessary to remove the majority of leaves to prevent them from smothering grass growth on your lawn. However, raking leaves isn’t your only option for leaf removal. You can remove leaves easily with a leaf blower or compost or mulch them with your lawn mower to repurpose them to help grow your garden or yard.
Raking leaves can be tough on your back, so follow tips to make raking easier, such as choosing the appropriate rake type, using a tarp, and creating many small piles. Make the process easier by watching the forecast and choosing a dry, mild-temperature day for this chore, otherwise you’ll have a tough time raking wet, sticky leaves.
Several leaf-removal tools are available to make this annual process easier, including a leaf grabber, leaf tarps, leaf blowers, and leak vacuums. Each piece of equipment works differently, but they all achieve the same goal of picking up leaves as quickly and easily as possible.