Fall is here! Soon, you’ll be serenaded by the sound of your neighbor’s leaf blower, and wonder if it’s time to get out your own, or a rake, and deal with the autumnal pile on your own lawn.
Or maybe not. In some situations, it may be better off to leave that golden carpet alone.
🍂 Why Leave the Leaves?
Leaves have nutrients that can be recycled into your lawn, according to UW Extension educator Diana Alfuth. They break down over the wintertime to provide a rich compost for the soil ahead of spring planting. And they provide a natural insulation for plant roots as the cold sets in.
They also provide a handy cover for insects, like butterflies, caterpillars, and even bumblebees, to shelter beneath during the cold winter months. So that’s where they go!
🍂To Rake or Not to Rake?
It’s the amount of leaves on your property that really determines whether you should get out the rake.
If only some of your lawn is covered, say 20% or so, you can go ahead and leave them be. They’ll blow around and break down on their own.
If you have 50% lawn coverage, you still don’t need to rake. Just run them over with your lawn mower. The smaller pieces will settle down between the blades of grass and provide nutrients.
But if you have a heavy cover of leaves, it’s probably a good idea to rake up at least half of them. The issue is that too many leaves might end up smothering and matting down the grass.
🍂What To Do With Those Leaves?
Madison will start its leaf and yard waste collection next week. But you can also use those leaves for composting or winter mulching, or save them for mulch in the spring planting season.
Or you can just make a big pile and cannonball into them!
