Fall foliage is nearly upon us: Smoky Mountains website’s fall foliage forecast predicts that fall colors will begin to peek through the trees in New England during the week of Sept. 9.
With fall foliage comes fallen leaves and some questions: Should I rake my leaves? Does my neighbor have to rake theirs?
There are no state laws governing whether you have to rake your leaves in Massachusetts. However, some towns have specific rules, and experts have other advice.
An artist creates amid the brilliant fall foliage at Institute Park in Worcester in October, 2024.
Do I have to rake my leaves this fall?
The answer to whether you have to rake your leaves may be yes, depending on what town you live in and how many leaves are in your yard.
While there is no state law specifically about fallen leaves, there are laws that allow town officials to abate and remove “nuisance” in a town. Some local ordinances use these laws to govern “overgrowth” on property, which sometimes includes leaves.
In Springfield, for example, city ordinances say that property must be kept free of overgrowth, including grass, grass clippings, weeds, leaves, branches or yard waste, more than six inches high.
The ordinance says that the city has the authority under Massachusetts law to remove and dispose of any overgrowth after providing a notice to the property owner.
In Worcester, an ordinance about nuisances on property says that all property must be maintained free of vegetation over 12 inches high that may become infested with animals, conceal pools of stagnant water or create a fire safety hazard.
Leaves will soon change color and fall to the ground. Should you rake them?
Should I rake my leaves?
While some town ordinances require you to clean up your yard if the leaves exceed a certain height, experts say there are some reasons to leave the leaves on the ground.
Lou Meyer, a business developer for The Davey Tree Expert Company’s mid-Atlantic region, told USA TODAY in prior years that not raking your leaves can be more environmentally friendly, as many municipalities send leaves to landfills, where they don’t biodegrade well and release methane.
Left in your yard instead, leaves can decompose and return nutrients to the soil, as well as provide a home for wildlife.
However, Meyer said that you should remove your leaves if they are diseased, and that leaving leaves in large chunks can block sunlight and cause diseases to your lawn.
Contributing: Emily DeLetter, Catherine Messier
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Do I have to rake my leaves this fall? Here’s what MA law says