Not raking leaves improves soil health by allowing them to decompose and return nutrients to the ground, while also creating a natural habitat for wildlife. Oh dear. They are not garbage but they definitely are 'litter' in the most basic meaning of the word.
Failing to rake up and remove leaves in the fall can have several negative effects on your grass: Smothering: A thick layer of leaves can block sunlight and air from reaching the grass. This can lead to grass dying off or becoming weak due to lack of essential resources.
Leaves can smother your lawn and eventually kill it.
This can quickly kill your lawn if the leaves are not picked up for several weeks and create a breeding ground for certain insects and pests. As the leaves begin to rot, there is also an increased chance for fungus and mold growth.
Excessive leaf matter on your lawn going into winter is bad for several reasons. First, it will smother the grass and if not removed very soon in the spring it will inhibit growth. Second, it can promote the snow mold diseases. And finally, turf damage from critters (voles, mice) can be more extensive in the spring.
When leaves fall from the trees in autumn, don't waste them by just raking them up and tidying them away. They are valuable for your garden and your plants, according to the Arboretum's Plant Clinic, and can save you money by replacing purchased products.
Raking leaves is a no-go, wildlife experts say. Animals use the leaves to reproduce, inhabit and hide food. Fall is the time of year when leaves begin to fall and the weather takes a turn below freezing. While the trees no longer need the leaves, animals do.
Generally, you should rake leaves off your lawn every three or four days. You can make a judgment call depending on how quickly leaves are piling up. If it's day four and leaves are sparse, putting it off for a day or two is fine. You should consider the weather while deciding when to rake.
While leaf piles may be aesthetically pleasing to some, they can cause serious damage to your lawn. That's because when you leave leaf piles on your lawn all winter long, they can smother your grass and prevent it from receiving the essential nutrients and resources it needs.
Thatch, a layer of dead grass and root matter, can impede water, nutrients, and air from reaching the soil if too thick. Regular raking breaks apart and thins the thatch layer, which allows for enhanced grass root health and overall lawn vitality.
BENEFITS OF DEAD LEAVES
These minerals include calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus. When the leaves fall and decompose on soil, those minerals end up back in the soil. Leaves also are a good source of organic carbon which balances out excessive nitrogen in the soil.
It's best to chop up leaves, which will then break down in the grass. Rake excess amounts into a landscape bed. As leaves across America make their annual autumn pilgrimage from the treetops to the ground, lawn and wildlife experts say it's better to leave them around than to bag them.
On average, it takes leaves about one to three years to fully decompose. If leaves are already broken into smaller pieces, it takes less time, whereas if they are fully intact, it will take closer to the three-year mark.
BETTER FOR YOUR LAWN AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Mowing your leaves - also known as mulch mowing - into tiny pieces on your lawn, is healthier for your lawn and soil than piling or bagging them to be removed. As the shredded leaves decompose, their nutrients enhance the soil and provide free organic mulch for your garden beds.
Pro: Prevent Mold and Disease
Raking removes harmful leaf layers that can cause snow mold diseases, according to the University of New Hampshire. Raking away leaves, rather than just mulching them, lessens the likelihood that you'll have to reseed in the spring.
Spring is the best time to carry out some light raking, just as the weather starts to warm up. This is when your grass begins to grow again after winter, and a light raking will help to wake it up and clear out any leftover winter debris. Heavy raking and scarifying are best left to autumn after the leaves have fallen.
Raking Leaves For Mulch
Use a rake to shift leaves onto planting beds to help provide protective mulch through winter. Placing a leaf layer beneath shrubs can offer winter shelter to beneficial insects.
Why It's Okay to Leave Fallen Leaves. Surprisingly, it's not only okay to leave fallen leaves on your lawn, it's an advantage—at least for the wildlife surrounding your home. The National Wildlife Federation encourages homeowners to skip raking or blowing leaves entirely, and let them be.
Here are just some of the potential implications if you don't rake the leaves on your lawn: Create a fungal disease on your lawn. Block oxygen and sunlight from your lawn.
Leave the leaves, or move them just a bit
Leaves are great for soil quality: they can suppress weeds, retain moisture, and boost nutrition. And perennial plants appreciate the extra insulation through the winter, too!
Not only will the leaves provide excellent nitrogen and organic matter that your winter grass will love, it'll: protect root systems; preserve soil moisture; and. the lawn mower will help cut weeds, providing critical light for your grass.
Dark, damp leaf piles full of insects and trash provide everything rats and mice need to survive and reproduce. These piles often include twigs and branches that enable rodents to grind down their ever-growing teeth without leaving their new “home.”
Compost them
If you have a designated compost pile, dead leaves are a great addition to the mix. Again, they'll decompose faster if you shred them first. “The leaves, combined with other materials, can create a wonderful compost pile that you can then use in your flower beds or gardens come springtime,” says Engledow.
Leaves are biodegradable, meaning that bacteria or other living organisms can decompose them. While whole leaves take a longer time to break down (about two to three years), cut up leaves decompose faster (about one year) and can provide plenty of nutrients for the soil.
Tarp Method: Lay a large tarp or sheet on the ground near the leaf-covered area. Use a leaf blower or rake to gather leaves onto the tarp. Once gathered, drag the tarp to your desired disposal area or into a compost bin.