Fall is here and the leaves are falling, which means it’s time to rake them up, right? Well, the answer may not be so simple. A common option is to rake them into a pile, but another option is to leave them alone. Spoiler alert, I’m a fan of leaving the leaves alone!
My gardening style isn’t for everyone. That became very clear when I sold my house last year. I had help with the interior of the house, but when it came to the garden, I told the real estate agent it was perfect. They took one look at the mulch in my yard and suggested I add another layer of soil. People want to see soil, not wild mulch.
I took immediate action. My garden was covered in a layer of mulch because I had practiced chop and drop. Everything that grew in the garden decomposed in the garden. As a result, a three-inch thick layer of plants fell off. To me, that was one of the best parts of the garden.
Now, I don’t know what the new owners ultimately thought, but the gardener has never commented on the mulch. I hate seeing natural plants go to waste, and I dread to think of leaves being raked in my yard. I knew that if I left the yard as it was, the new owners would have the best soil around.
So today I want to talk to you about raking leaves and other best practices for mulching leaves in your yard.
In this post we’ll cover:
Why should you leave the leaves?
As the trees start to change color, everyone starts raking up leaves to clean the “dirt” off the trees as part of their fall gardening checklist. But in reality, they’re harming the little ecosystems in their yards. These leaves are essential for the wildlife in their yards.
Yes, we’re talking about the good ones. Many native insects (including the fan-favorite ladybug) hibernate or lay their eggs in the leaves. When these insects emerge or hatch, they also become food for the first birds returning north.
Mulching is valued as an essential component in insulating the soil, suppressing weeds, conserving soil moisture, preventing soil erosion, and replenishing soil nutrients.
This wisdom comes directly from the forest: plant material such as leaves, bark, and seeds fall to the ground in forests and other wild spaces, where they form a carpet of plant material that decomposes to nourish and strengthen the soil below.
Home gardeners are taught to remove this carpet of plant debris, but doing so leaves the soil around the plants exposed, which quickly dries out and becomes susceptible to weeds. Mulching replaces this important layer in your garden.
The scariest thing I see on Halloween isn’t some spooky ghost or spectre. It’s the bags of collected leaves that some people call decorations, painted with jack-o’-lantern faces. The last thing we should do is send those leaves to a landfill.
What would happen if you didn’t rake the leaves?
If you don’t rake your leaves, you’ll end up in a yard like mine. I know the idea of a covered yard or lawn in leaves is a horrifying thought for many of us, but there is definitely a way to get the best of both worlds.
Leaves that fall on your walkway or porch can be swept up. Push piles of leaves into flower beds where they will decompose most easily. There’s no need to rake leaves into other areas of the yard, but try not to remove them completely.
The end result is a garden just as Mother Nature intended: plants that grow in your garden will grow back in it the same way they did when you were gone, and a garden full of nutrients and natural mulch.
Is mulching leaves a good idea for your garden?
Mulch is made up of partially shredded and chopped leaves, and is a nutritious organic matter, which is why it’s great for the garden. Leaves and chopped grass clippings are great for composting because they break down easily. No additional green or brown vegetables are needed (see my compost recipes to see what I mean here).
I especially like using leaf mulch in my vegetable garden because it adds lots of nutrients to depleted soil, and you can add it anywhere you don’t get much mulch naturally.
To mulch leaves, rake them into a pile. Make sure they are free of pests, diseases, pesticides, and herbicides. Compost the pile. After a few weeks, you can chop them up further with a lawnmower or clippers.
Spread mulch around your garden, focusing on the base of your plants. This will add an extra layer of protection for winter. You can also add mulch to your existing compost bin to help the compost break down faster.
Is it okay to leave leaves on the grass?
Some people claim that not raking leaves will kill your lawn because it reduces water, sunlight, and air circulation, but that’s not actually the case.
Whether on the lawn or in the garden, leaves actually improve your lawn by breaking down and providing free fertilizer, and the same is true for lawn clippings.
If you have a lot of trees that shed leaves on your lawn, or you just don’t like a messy lawn, you can cull the leaves. Leave them there and mow them once a week with a mulching blade on your lawnmower.
If the layer of leaves is thick, especially if you live in an area that gets snow, you may need to thin it out or chop it up with a lawnmower, as moisture can get trapped between the leaves and the grass, allowing mold and fungus to grow.
Spring leaf care
Mulching with leaves gives you a little more to start your garden off in the spring. Rather than removing the leaves that are still decomposing, spread fresh compost on top of the leaves. As the compost breaks down, it will continue to nourish the soil, giving your plants more energy for the growing season.
Frequently asked questions about cleaning up fallen leaves
Yes! Leaves actually decompose quickly and are a nutritious material that you can add to your garden just like compost.
Absolutely! Leaves are rich in carbon and can act as fertilizer for your garden. To keep things tidy and help your leaves break down easily, you can also use a lawnmower to remove the leaves. This will create a leaf mulch that will go back into the soil, nourish it, and help prevent weeds.
Don’t rake leaves. The only time I rake leaves is to push them into the garden. Leaves should be left in the garden where they come from. Raking leaves keeps the garden tidy and helps push plants off the lawn and walkways into flower beds.
It all depends on your city’s specific ordinances, and you could even be fined, but overall it’s best practice to tuck those leaves into your garden beds and let them decompose naturally back into the soil.
Absolutely. Fallen leaves on sidewalks, walkways, stairs, or patios can make them slippery and difficult to access. Sweep or rake leaves off sidewalks, place them in flower beds or on the lawn, and cut them with a lawnmower.
Wait until the leaves are mostly dry; wet leaves will clog your mower. Ideally, you should mow every time there’s a new layer of leaves, about an inch thick.
If you are spreading leaves directly on your lawn, be sure to remove the bagging attachment. Even if you want to collect the leaves to spread elsewhere, we recommend making one pass without the bagging attachment as the leaves will get sucked into the bagging attachment and not shredded. After the leaves are shredded, you will need to make a second pass with the bagging attachment.
Do you keep the leaves? Let us know in the comments below how you plan to rake them this fall!
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