For some of us, lawn care is just a chore, while for others it’s an obsession. But if there’s one part of a lawn’s upkeep that almost everyone detests, it’s raking autumn leaves. Sure, kids love jumping into a heaping pile of fallen foliage, but for the rest of us, leaf blowing (or raking) season…
It’s Not Blower Season, It’s Mower Season
That’s right — put your leaf blower back in the garage and wheel out your mower instead. If leaves are left whole, they will form an impenetrable mat that overwhelms your grass. But if you run your mower over them repeatedly, until the pieces are about dime-sized, you get completely different results.
The pieces are small enough that the grass can grow right up through them, keeping your lawn green and attractive (you often won’t even notice the leaves). Over the fall and winter, those chopped-up leaves will break down into compost, enriching your lawn and helping it retain moisture, which is a major bonus if you live in a dry climate. Your local ecosystem benefits, too, since many helpful insects and other small creatures rely on those leaves for protection in the winter and spring. Note: You may need to do a little raking if your leaves aren’t spread evenly, just to ensure your mower can mulch them and your entire lawn gets the benefit.
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Other Tips and Pointers
If you have only a small quantity of leaves, you can scoop them into a trash can and use a string trimmer to pulverize them. Alternatively, if you have a lot of trees on your property, a stand-alone leaf shredder might be a better way to tackle the load. However you choose to do it, shredded leaves quickly become an asset rather than a liability.
If you don’t want to leave them on your lawn, one of the best ways to use them is as garden mulch. A layer of leaf mulch can help protect your perennials and fall-planted crops, such as garlic, from harsh winters. Then, when gardening season rolls around again, that same layer of mulch will help suppress weeds, retain moisture, and protect your plants from heat waves. If you have a compost pile, the leaves are also a valuable “brown” ingredient to balance your kitchen scraps and grass clippings and keep the compost active and healthy. So, don’t bag ’em, mulch ’em!
