Answer first: the fall cleanup that matters before the snow is clearing leaves off the lawn, dealing with fallen and pruned branches, and giving the grass one last tidy-up. A leaf vacuum or blower, a small chipper and a dethatcher or scarifier cover almost all of it, and each is used for a weekend or two a year. On LEND-IT.CA, leaf blowers and leaf vacuums rent from about $6 to $20 a day, a garden chipper for $20, and a dethatcher or scarifier for $20.
Buying all three means storing three machines for a job you do once a year. Renting them for the Saturday you actually do the work is the simpler route.
Why clear the leaves before the snow?
A thick mat of wet leaves left on the lawn all winter smothers the grass and invites snow mould, which shows up in spring as matted grey or pink patches. A light scatter of leaves is fine. A layer you cannot see the grass through is not.
You have two options:
Mulch them. Shredded leaves break down quickly and feed the lawn and garden beds. A leaf vacuum with a mulching setting shreds them as it collects, so the same leaves fill far fewer bags.Collect them for pickup. Most Ontario municipalities collect yard waste in paper bags or open bins on set fall dates. Check your city's rules on bag type and pickup weeks before you start.
Which leaf machine should you rent?
Leaf blower - fast for moving leaves off driveways, patios and lawns into a pile.Leaf vacuum and mulcher - sucks the pile up, shreds it and bags it. Best for small lots and for anyone who wants mulch.
Live listings right now:
Vacuums work best on dry leaves, so pick a dry afternoon rather than the morning after rain.
What do you do with fallen and pruned branches?
Fall is a good time to prune dead wood, and summer storms leave plenty on the ground. A garden chipper turns a pile of branches into a bag of mulch for the beds.
Anything thicker than a chipper can take is chainsaw work. Our guide to renting a chainsaw and log splitter for firewood covers that.
Wear safety glasses and gloves, feed branches butt-end first, and never reach into the chute.
Should you dethatch or aerate in the fall?
Early fall is one of the two good windows for it, the other being spring. The grass needs a few weeks of growth afterwards to recover, so in most of Ontario do it by mid-October, not in November.
Dethatcher or scarifier - rakes out the layer of dead grass that stops water and air getting to the roots.Aerator - loosens compacted soil, especially where people and dogs walk the same path all summer.
Live listings:
See more in the equipment category .
What about the last mow?
Keep mowing until the grass stops growing, and drop the height a little for the final cut so long grass does not mat down under the snow. If your own mower is already put away, corded and battery mowers are listed from $10 a day , including a 16 inch mulching mower in Whitby and a Ryobi 18V mower in Perth, Ontario.
How do you haul it all away?
For a big cleanup that goes beyond the municipal pickup, a trailer to the depot saves several trips. A 6 by 10 dump trailer with ramps is listed in St. Thomas for $50 a day , and a 5 by 10 utility trailer in Kanata for $40 a day . Check the hitch ball size on the listing before you book.
Is your leaf blower sitting in the shed?
If you own yard tools that only come out in spring and fall, someone nearby may need them on the same weekends. You can list them on LEND-IT.CA and share the link in your neighbourhood group.
FAQ
How much does it cost to rent a leaf blower?
Leaf blowers and leaf vacuums on LEND-IT.CA rent from about $6 to $20 a day, depending on the model and the lender.
Is it better to rake, blow or mulch leaves?
Blowing is fastest for moving leaves into a pile. Mulching shreds them so they fill fewer bags or can go back on the garden. A thick layer left on the lawn over winter can smother the grass.
Can I rent a wood chipper for a weekend?
Yes. A chipper and shredder is listed near Ottawa for $20 a day. Check the maximum branch thickness on the listing before you book.
When is it too late to dethatch or aerate?
In most of Ontario, aim to finish by mid-October so the grass has time to recover before it goes dormant.
Do I need a truck to rent a trailer?
You need a vehicle with a hitch that matches the trailer's ball size and can handle the loaded weight. The listing states the ball size.
Related reading: pressure washer rental: finding the best fit for your job , for cleaning the deck and patio furniture before they go away for winter.
