Fall season is unique for several reasons among homeowners with landscapes or lawns they care for, and leaves are one of these reasons. Most are well familiar with regular calls to rake or otherwise remove leaves from the lawn and other parts of a given landscape near the end of the fall, before winter’s frost sets in, and there are several good reasons for these calls.
At Lawn Care Experts, we’re happy to offer lawn care and lawn maintenance services to all our clients, including fall care in several areas. One of our most common questions this time of year from clients: Is it really necessary for me to rake my leaves, and if so, why? Here’s a primer on the subject, helping you understand why leaf removal is important and some general tactics for doing so.
Lawn Health Factors
The primary reason raking leaves is important during the fall and before the winter: Protecting your lawn and keeping it healthy. There are several basic variables at play here.
If you do not rake your lawn at all during the fall and leading into winter, a significant buildup of leaves will remain that will “suffocate” your grass. There is a chance this effect will lead to numerous negatives, from pests and diseases that are more likely to take hold to the blockage of vital water and sun nutrients that need to make their way to the grass itself. In many situations, this will even prevent new grass blades from growing during the following spring, plus will lead to issues like snow mold, brown patch and others.
Other Leaf Issues
Potential lawn health issues aren’t the only reasons why raking leaves is important, however. For one, this may be an ordinance in your area – many cities and even many individual neighborhood homeowners’ associations have rules here, and you might be fined if you don’t comply. For another, leaves may also lead to concerns like clogged storm drains, stained wood decks or slippery sidewalks, which create hazards on your property.
Raking Approaches
Some common approaches for raking or otherwise clearing leaves from your lawn in the fall:
- Standard raking or blowing: It’s totally fine to simply rake and bag up your leaves in a traditional way, or to use a leaf blower in the same way.
- Mulch: Some prefer to chop up their leaves and relocate them as a light mulch layer for certain tree areas.
- Compost: Down similar lines, others may use their bagged leaves in the compost pile. Leaves won’t compost themselves, but they may assist with other elements.
- Mowing: When leaves are crunch and dry, many simply choose to run their mower over them, chopping them up and allowing them to protect the lawn. Mow without a bag if this is your preferred route.
For more on the importance of clearing leaves from your lawn ahead of winter, or to learn about any of our lawn care or landscaping services, speak to the staff at Lawn Care Experts today.