Leaf removal professionals near you

When looking for a professional to remove leaves from your yard, make sure you:

• Verify their license and insurance: Most states don’t require a special license for leaf cleanup and removal. However, ensuring the company has proper business license insurance — including liability and workers’ compensation — can help protect you in case of accidents or property damage.

• Get several estimates: Request detailed estimates that include the cost of labor, equipment and any additional charges, such as disposal or gutter cleaning. Also, ask for the estimated timeframe for the job.

• Read their reviews: Look for positive feedback about reliability, professionalism and attention to detail. Red flags include complaints about tardiness or missed work.

• Look at their portfolios: Ask for examples from previous jobs, especially from homes similar to yours. A trustworthy professional will have before-and-after photos showing clean and thorough work.

• Find out if they have warranties: See if they offer a satisfaction guarantee or followup service if you're unsatisfied with the job.

• Ask important questions: Find out what equipment they use, how they handle leaf disposal, how they avoid damage to lawns, and any additional charges that might arise.

For more tips, visit Thumbtack’s Smart Hiring page. 

The national average cost of leaf removal ranges from around $131 to $374,* according to Thumbtack data. There are several factors that might impact the cost of this project, including: 

• Number and size of trees: The more deciduous trees you have, the more leaves you will have to remove. Older, taller trees shed many more leaves than dwarf ornamentals.

• Lot size: The more acreage you have, the more labor-intensive and costly your leaf removal will be.

• Removal method: In general, leaf blowers are faster than raking, which can help reduce labor costs. Leaf vacuums are also fast, but may cost more due to the specialized equipment required.

You might be able to save money on your project with these tips: 

• DIY raking or blowing: Getting some or all of the leaves to the curb for vacuum removal can help reduce labor costs.

• Compost your debris: Having leaves mulched and added to a compost pile can be cheaper than removing them and provide a healthy soil additive for gardeners.

• Get quotes: Compare prices from several reputable contractors providing leaf removal near you. 

*Data on file at Thumbtack. For a personalized cost estimate, request a quote from a professional.

Typically, the best time for leaf removal is in late fall (after most leaves have dropped) but before the winter snow makes it harder to clean them up. Several factors may affect this timing, including:

• Tree species: Trees shed their leaves on different schedules. For example, maples drop early while stubborn oaks might hold their leaves until December.   

• First frost date: It’s best to schedule removal about 7 to 10 days after your area’s first frost, when the majority of leaves have fallen but before they freeze to the ground. 

• Rainfall patterns: Wet leaves are harder to remove and can lead to higher labor costs, so you ideally want to schedule leaf removal before heavy rainfall begins.     

• Lawn health concerns: Removing leaves before they sit through multiple freeze-thaw cycles prevents snow mold and brown patch disease, potentially saving you money on spring lawn repairs.  

• Local pickup schedules: Timing your leaf removal to match your city’s lawn debris collection dates means that you or your service provider can leave bags curbside without additional disposal fees.

Some of the biggest benefits of hiring someone for leaf cleanup and removal include:

• Tools and equipment: Leaf removal often requires more than just rakes and bags. Professionals have access to blowers, mulching mowers and heavy-duty leaf vacuums that can make short work of autumn leaves. Hiring a leaf removal service will save you the cost and effort of having to buy or rent leaf-removal equipment.

• Time savings: During the fall, cleaning up autumn leaves can occupy multiple weekends if you plan to do this job yourself — particularly since it’s best to remove leaves several times throughout the season to prevent dense leaf mats that can kill grass or landscaping.

• Disposal: While some cities and trash pickup services offer designated leaf collection days for bagged leaves, not all do. Even where pickup is available, storing bagged leaves until collection day — and dealing with bag limits — can be a hassle. A professional leaf removal service may dispose of the leaves for you (always ask about this before you hire a pro).

• Allergies: Leaf removal can be messy work and trigger serious allergic reactions in people with even the slightest dust or pollen allergies. Hire a professional to save yourself the itchy, watery eyes and runny nose.

In most cases, here's what you can expect when hiring a leaf removal service:

• Collection: A professional leaf removal service will use leaf blowers, rakes and other tools to collect all the leaves in every part of your yard, including areas that might be more difficult to reach. They then gather all of these into bags.

• Removal: After collection, the leaf removers will take the leaves from the yard, leaving your lawn and garden clean. They may take them to a dump or compost them afterward.

• Maintenance: Some companies will offer seasonal maintenance packages to keep your lawn tidy all year. Speak to your local leaf removal professionals to learn what options they offer.

Not everyone tips for landscaping and related services, but it's appreciated. If you want to tip for leaf removal, consider the job size, the crew's efforts and your budget. Because tipping isn't mandatory for leaf removal services, choosing how much to tip is up to you.

Also, don't forget about leaving a review. A positive review can help a pro grow their business, and it's a nice way to thank them for their services.