With fall on the horizon—officially beginning September 22—lawns in Westlake Forest will start to grow more slowly while trees shed their leaves. Less frequent mowing during this dormant season means leaves can accumulate more quickly than many homeowners expect. When those leaves build up along curbs or wash toward storm drains during autumn rains, they don’t just disappear.

Instead, they can clog stormwater inlets, contribute to localized flooding, and add excess nutrients to bayous and creeks as they break down. Keeping up with raking or blowing—even as mowing becomes less routine—is an important step in preventing problems and keeping your neighborhood prepared for the cooler months ahead.

So... Where Do Storm Drains Actually Go?

Here’s a fact that surprises a lot of people: in most regions, storm drains don’t connect to water treatment plants. According to the Harris County Flood Control District, stormwater systems are built to move rain off the streets as quickly as possible—but whatever enters the drain goes straight into nearby creeks, bayous, or detention basins, untreated.

That means when leaves, grass clippings, and other yard debris get into the storm drain, they don’t just disappear—they create a chain reaction:

• Flooding risk goes up when drains are clogged by wet, matted leaves.
• Waterways become polluted as decomposing leaves release excess nitrogen and phosphorus.
• Mosquitoes find new breeding spots in the standing water that backs up behind blockages.
• Public cleanup costs increase—which ultimately affects local budgets and services.
• All of that starts with something as ordinary as a leaf pile left in the wrong place.

Mobile Sidebar Ad

What Should You Do Instead?

The good news? Managing fall leaves in a cleaner, more community-friendly way is easier than you think. And it often improves your lawn and garden while you're at it.

Bag It (If That’s What Your MUD Recommends)

If your neighborhood has yard waste pickup, check to see if you should use kraft paper bags or a designated green bin. These bags are compostable and easy for crews to collect—and they keep leaf piles off the curb and out of the stormwater system.

Mulch It Back Into Your Lawn

If you’d rather skip the bagging altogether, mulching is one of the easiest and most beneficial options. Just mow over dry leaves with a mulching mower (or a standard mower set to mulch mode), and the finely shredded pieces will filter down into the grass.

According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, mulching not only feeds your soil with nutrients but also helps your lawn retain moisture and suppress weeds. Doing it now—before winter sets in—gives your yard an extra boost. The leaf fragments break down over the cooler months, enriching the soil and protecting grass roots as they go dormant.

Come spring, your lawn will be healthier, better nourished, and ready to green up more quickly—all thanks to a few passes with the mower this fall.

Compost It for Garden Use

Have flower beds, vegetable plots, or trees that could use a boost? Composting leaves gives you nutrient-rich soil over time. Combine your dry leaves (“brown” material) with grass clippings, food scraps, or coffee grounds (“green” material), keep the pile moist and turned, and you’ll have usable compost in just a few months. You don’t need much space to get started—and AgriLife even offers free guides for beginners.

Mobile Sidebar Ad

One Small Change, Big Neighborhood Impact

Raking leaves into the street might feel like a shortcut—but it often shifts the problem from your lawn to the entire block. And when enough people do it, the effects are visible: pooling water at intersections, blocked drains during storms, and degraded water quality downstream.

Being a good neighbor sometimes means noticing the small things—like where the leaves go after you’re done with the rake.

Quick Recap for Westlake Forest Residents

• Don’t blow or rake leaves into the street or storm drain.
• Do bag them properly if you have yard waste pickup.
• Do mulch or compost them if you want to reuse nutrients on your property.
• Do check with your MUD or waste service for local guidelines.

And thank you for helping keep our neighborhood safe, clean, and flood-resilient this fall.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.