October comes to Crete out of the oak woods along Thorn Creek, and once it starts, the leaves let go faster than anyone plans for. Blakney Lawn Maintenance LLC spends those weeks on cleanups and final mows, clearing lawns down to bare green so the grass goes into the cold breathing freely. Before that there are the mowing and edging weeks of the warm months; after it comes plowing, when the same properties need their drives and walks opened. The pleasure of the work is in the turn itself, in knowing a yard so well in September that you can find its curb line in February with a blade. Lawn care and snow removal, both ends of a Will County year.