What to do with your leaves this fall

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - It's no secret that Autumn is here and with that comes falling leaves, but experts say bagging them up and dumping them in landfill is not the best idea.

Leaves can actually help naturally fertilize your yard, garden and plants if you do it correctly.

Ron Patterson, University of Idaho Extension Horticulture Educator in Bonneville County says, "If you get the leaves matted on the top of your grass, then that can kill the grass out."

To get the organic matter back into the soil he suggests mowing the leaves up into smaller pieces, if there isn't too much on the lawn, or compost them.

"Don't fill the landfills with leaves. That's not a good thing. It's kind of silly actually because we want to get that organic matter back into the soil. It will help to improve the soil matter," says Patterson.

But if you have no way of composting your leaves, Idaho Falls Public Works is here to help with leaf collection beginning Monday, Oct. 24.  

You may rake your leaves – free of branches and other debris – into the curb the week prior to your scheduled collection date. The Street Division will collect the leaves that are not bagged and haul them away.  

“Getting the leaves to the curb the week prior is very helpful for the heavy equipment operators who may come a day or two earlier than the collection date to remove the larger piles,” Public Information Officer Kerry Hammon said. “A street sweeper will then come along and remove the remaining leaves. The leaves will be turned into mulch and made available for residents in the spring."

You are encouraged to move your vehicles off the street during your scheduled collection date to make leaf collection safer and more efficient during collection. 

After the last collection date on Nov. 18, the schedule will not repeat unless weather conditions and time are conducive for more leaf collection.  

For those who would rather bag the leaves, the Idaho Falls Sanitation Division will do a one-time curbside collection of bagged leaves. The bags cannot weigh more than 50 pounds each. To schedule the collection call (208) 612-8491. Residents can also take bagged leaves to the Bonneville County Transfer Station for no charge.     

If leaves are blocked by an object in the curb or if residents are unable to get the leaves curbside prior to their scheduled collection date, they can either request a special collection or bag their leaves and schedule a bulk collection with the Idaho Falls Sanitation Division. Special collections are not guaranteed and are only done when weather conditions permit and if time is available when areas are completed ahead of schedule. 

In accordance with city ordinance, property owners must keep trees trimmed 13 feet above the road surface at the curb and 15 feet above the road surface at the centerline to allow room for the street sweepers to travel under the trees without damaging the equipment or the trees. 

For questions, contact the Idaho Falls Street Division at (208) 612-8490.

Leaf collection will also take place in Rexburg, Pocatello and Teton County. You can find those schedules on the cities' websites.