Leaf Removal

The Urbana campus is home to more than 18,000 trees.

When leaves first drop in the fall, F&S Grounds mowers are fitted with a new blade system that cuts up the leaves into even finer bits than you’d traditionally get, so that there’s no big pieces of leaf debris left in the grass. The much finer material settles back into the lawn, becoming a beneficial amendment to the soil and grass. Too much of that can damage the ground, so when larger leaf deposits come later in the year, leaves get removed in another way.

Large vacuums that sit on the back of tractors are deployed, as well as personal, backpack-style vacuums hit the grounds.

The tractor-led machinery gets the job done for the largest piles. Leaves are sucked up and shipped off site from the main campus over to a compost field.

Leaf Removal Plan

Leaf removal is first focused around building entryways, hardscapes (sidewalks/pavers/steps) storm drains and window wells.

Entryways and hardscapes are blown off daily or as needed.

Leaves are blown to lawn surfaces and mulched when possible

Window wells and storm drains are addressed every other week or prior to a forecasted precipitation event

Leaves in open lawn areas are mulched when mowing up until the point they accumulate beyond the capacity of the mowers. They are then vacuumed by our leaf vacuum equipment and hauled to an on-campus compost site.

Priority areas include; the Quads and their adjacent buildings, IGB, Gies College of Business, President’s Residence and Housing.

Yearly Calendar

September

Entryway leaves blown to lawn areas for mulching
Leaves mulched in lawn areas when mowing
Hardscape leaves blown to lawn areas for mulching
Leaves under hedges blown to lawn areas for mulching
Monthly or as needed window well and storm drain cleaning

October

Entryway leaves blown to lawn areas for mulching
Leaves mulched in lawn areas when mowing
Hardscape leaves blown to lawn areas for mulching
Leaves under hedges blown to lawn areas for mulching
Large amounts of leaves vacuumed and hauled off of lawn areas
Bi-weekly or as needed window well and storm drain cleaning

November

Entryway leaves blown to lawn areas for mulching
Leaves mulched in lawn areas when mowing
Hardscape leaves blown to lawn areas for mulching and collecting
Leaves under hedges blown to lawn areas for mulching and collecting
Large amounts of leaves vacuumed and hauled off of lawn areas
Detail work along curb edges and in Parking lots during Thanksgiving break
Bi-weekly or as needed window well and storm drain cleaning

December-February (in the absence of snow and freezing temperatures)

Entryway leaves collected
Detail work along curb edges and in parking lots during Winter break
Leaves on hardscapes and under hedges blown to lawn areas for collecting
Large amounts of leaves vacuumed and hauled off of lawn areas
Bi-weekly or as needed window well and storm drain cleaning

March

Entryway leaves collected
Detail work along curb edges and in parking lots during Spring break
Leaves on hardscapes and under hedges blown to lawn areas for collecting
Large amounts of leaves vacuumed and hauled off of lawn areas
Bi-weekly or as needed window well and storm drain cleaning