Autumn cleanup of the garden in Stockholm

When should the autumn cleanup be done?

The right week is set by the trees, not the calendar. In Greater Stockholm the leaves fall from late September to early November, and maple, ash and birch let go at different times. The best autumn cleanup happens once most of the leaf fall is down but the ground is still frost-free, usually between week 42 and week 46.

Wait until the snow arrives and the leaves stay under a damp blanket all winter. They smother the grass, moss takes over, and in April you are met by yellow patches that have to be reseeded. If you have many deciduous trees it pays to split the cleanup into two visits, one in mid-October and one in early November.

• Late September: flower beds cleared, summer pots emptied, perennials cut back.
• Mid-October: the first leaf collection, the last mow of the season at 4–5 cm.
• Early November: the final leaf collection, moss control, sweeping of paths and patios.
• Before the first frost: hoses and outdoor taps drained, delicate plants protected.

What does an autumn garden cleanup cost?

The price is set by the size of the plot, how many deciduous trees stand on it and how much waste has to be taken away. A small villa plot with two trees is a very different job from a leafy thousand-square-metre garden or a courtyard. So we look at the plot, on site or from your photos, and send a free quote with a clear hourly rate, in most cases within 24 hours.

Private individuals pay after the RUT deduction of up to 50 % of the labour cost, which we take off the invoice directly. Taking the leaves away does not qualify for the deduction, so the tipping fee is always listed separately on the quote.

What happens if you skip the autumn cleanup?

You see it first in May, and by then it costs more to put right. Leaves left over winter leave bare yellow patches in the lawn that have to be loosened, reseeded and watered in. Meanwhile the moss has had damp months to spread, and weeds that were allowed to seed in autumn come back many times over.

Then there is what you cannot see: damp piles of leaves in the beds are winter quarters for slugs, and leaves in gutters and on flat roofs cause water damage when they freeze. A cleanup done in autumn is cheaper than the spring rescue that follows otherwise.

What happens to the leaves and the garden waste?

You choose. If you want to keep the nutrients we put the leaves in your compost or in a leaf pile that becomes leaf mould for the beds next year. If you have a garden waste bin we fill it. If you want the plot completely clean, add waste removal to the same job and we load everything and drive it to a recycling centre.

Burning leaves is banned in most municipalities in Stockholm County for most of the year, and the rules differ between them. We handle the waste according to the rules where you live, so you do not have to keep track of them.

Autumn cleanup for housing cooperatives and property owners

In a courtyard the autumn cleanup is as much about safety as appearance. Wet leaves on steps, paths and entrances turn slippery long before the ice arrives, and the board is responsible for surfaces being safe to walk on. We clean whole courtyards, blocks and residential areas, with one contact person and an arrangement agreed with the board.

Many cooperatives put the autumn cleanup into a running care contract that also covers snow clearing and gritting. The grounds then move from autumn into winter without anyone having to call a new supplier in the middle of the first snowfall.