Leaves can quickly pile up in your yard during the fall season, and you may be wondering if you can just burn them to get rid of them. However, you should not do this! Burning leaf piles can release irritants into the air, causing respiratory issues. It's also a fire hazard, as the leaves or embers could blow away and start a fire elsewhere. Not only that, but it's illegal or requires special permits and regulations in many places in Alabama and Tennessee. Rather than burning them, you should hire professionals to clean up the leaves in your yard. They have the equipment and expertise to do this safely and efficiently, saving you time and effort while ensuring the best results.

Burning Leaf Piles Can Release Irritants Into the Air

One of the biggest reasons why you shouldn't burn the leaf piles in your yard is that it can release irritants into the air. When leaves are burned, they release smoke and various harmful particles, such as carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter. These irritants can cause respiratory issues, especially for those with asthma, allergies, or other respiratory conditions. Additionally, children and the elderly are more susceptible to the adverse effects of inhaling these harmful substances. So, it's best to avoid burning the leaf piles in your yard to protect your health and the health of others in your community.

Burning Leaf Piles Can Be a Fire Hazard

Flames engulfing leaves and yard debris in Huntsville, AL.

Another reason why you shouldn't burn the leaf piles in your yard is that it can be a fire hazard. Leaves are highly flammable, and when they are burned, the flames can quickly get out of control. If the wind picks up, the leaves or embers could blow away and start a fire elsewhere, putting your property and others at risk. Additionally, burning leaves can damage your lawn and other nearby vegetation, leaving unsightly scorch marks and potentially killing the grass. So, it's best to avoid burning the leaf piles in your yard to prevent any potential fire hazards.

Burning Leaf Piles Is Illegal in Many Places

In many places, burning leaf piles is illegal. Local ordinances and regulations often prohibit the burning of leaves due to the potential health and safety risks associated with it. Violating these laws can result in fines and other penalties, so it's important to check with your local authorities before burning any leaf piles in your yard. Even if it's not explicitly illegal in your area and requires a permit to do so, it's still best to avoid burning them to protect yourself and others from the potential health and safety risks.

What should you do instead of burning the leaf piles in your yard?

Pile of leaves on a blue tarp in Huntsville, AL.

Rather than burning the leaf piles in your yard, you should hire professionals to clean them up for you. Pros have the equipment and expertise to safely and efficiently remove the leaves from your yard. They can also haul them away and dispose of the leaves properly so that they don't pose a health or safety risk to you or your community. Hiring professionals to clean up the leaves in your yard can save you time and effort while ensuring that the job is done right without any burning involved.

You can have pros visit multiple times throughout the fall season to clean up leaves from your lawn and landscape.

Call us today to schedule our leaf removal service!

At Five Star Lawn and Landscaping, we offer a leaf removal service to help you get rid of the leaves in your yard during the fall. Our team will come out to blow leaves off your lawn and out of landscape beds before raking them onto a tarp. Then, we'll haul them away to dispose of them so that you're left with a pristine, leaf-free yard. We offer our leaf removal service to residential and commercial properties, as well as HOAs, in Huntsville, Owens Cross Roads, Madison, AL, and throughout the surrounding areas, including those in and around Winchester, TN. Call us today at (256) 975-0529 to schedule!