Rake leaves or leave them? It’s a great debate. Raking leaves is right up there with weeding and snow removal in the fun factor, isn’t it? Homeownership certainly has it’s moments. But, chin up my fellow outdoor chore procrastinators, there may be a way out of one particular task of contention. Drop the rake, and rev up the lawn mower. Make your leaves into mulch and feed your grass, garden and beds.
According to Angi, the homeowners help site, there are definitely some advantages to mowing. They say the pros of mowing, which is ultimately mulching your leaves, range from efficiency to soil advantage. The article states: “mulching leaves into your lawn allows them to break down and boost the soil quality. Maple leaves, for example, have even been shown to reduce weed seed germination. Other leaves, like honey locust, are high in nitrogen, which helps grass and plants grow.”
Plus, we are more likely to jump to the mowing option because it’s fairly quick, easy and less labor intensive. Let’s go with easy and quick! Disposing of leaves is costly for your town too. And there’s only so much space in this world for disposal of such things.
Of course there are pros to raking. It’s healthy for you (the exercise) and your lawn. Raking is like a cleansing for your grass. You aerate your lawn with every stroke. And leaving too many clumps of leaves can lead to mold and disease. I guess the best scenario would be to get your kids to do the raking. Then it’s a win/win.
In an article released last year by National Public Radio (NPR), they clearly laid out the advantages of mowing/mulching. It’s all broken down for you below.
Leave It Out Of Landfills
Every year about 8 million tons of leaves, collected from yards like yours and mine, end up in landfills.
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Leaves Help The Grass
Honestly, my husband has said this for years, and I believed it was his excuse not to rake (which is probably was) but the point is, he was right. (I hope he isn’t reading this).
Leaves are full of all the good stuff; nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. According to the NPR article, as explained by a professor of landscape horticulture, Susan Barton, “Those nutrients are being returned to the soil. But probably even more important than that, it’s the organic matter. It’s the fact that you’ve got this tissue that then eventually decomposes and improves the soil health.”
Just remember they only work well when mulched, or mowed. Big leaves left on your lawn will block the sunlight it needs. So, you can’t be completely lazy.
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The Bugs will love you
According to experts, as cited in the NPR article, leaving the leaves also gives insects, slugs and spiders a habitat. And possibly a home for toads, turtles and smaller mammals. All important to the ecosystem.
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Keep your beds warm
After you mow the leaves, you can leave piles around your garden beds and trees. The pros say the leaves protect your trees roots from the harsh winter weather. And spreading them around the shrubs and in the garden add nutrients to the soild .
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Leaves Are A Valuable Resource
Professor Susan Barton explains, “We want to think about those leaves as being a resource,” and not a problem, And when you think about sustainable landscaping, well, one of the things we say about sustainable landscaping is let natural processes happen. And that’s a natural process.”
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