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Every year , drop reintroduce us to a batch of pleasures usable in no other season — raging Malus pumila cyder , autumn pumpkin cutting , and so much more . But diminish also signals the return of one job many of us apprehension : raking leaf . You might be surprised to learn that , according to David Mizejewski of theNational Wildlife Federation , leaf - rake is an optional enterprise . Mulching leaf instead can benefit your lawn , and local wildlife as well .

While you certainly do n’t want to leave a thick bed of leaves to strangle the skunk growing beneath , raking up and disposing of leaves that have fall on your lawn is n’t necessarily the dependable choice either .

A person is pushing a lawn mower on a lawn to shred leaves for mulch.

Photo: iStock

Benefits of Mulching Leaves

Is mulching leaves unspoilt for your lawn ? dead , fit in to Sal Musto , beginner of SalCorp Landscaping & Construction in Walpole , Massachusetts . “ Mulched leaf make home ground for wildlife like worms , louse , and birds , ” he says . “ Small fauna may use them for protection . The decomposers and forager ground a healthy ecosystem in your cubic yard , ” he adds .

While cleaning up come down leaves can have its place in lawn care , pick out to mulch leaves instead of rake and bag them benefit both the gardener and the garden . Mulching leaves can :

How to Mulch Leaves With a Lawn Mower

The best means to mulch leaves is simply to habituate your lawn lawn mower . Any eccentric of lawn lawn mower can chop up leaves . “ To mulch leaves , mow over them with the bag off , shredding them , ” says Musto , although he cautions , “ You may need to mow sphere repeatedly . ”

Many unconstipated mower can be equip with a serrated leaf blade specially designed for mulching leaves , which can make the job much easier . This may make the process more efficient , but it ’s not necessary . No matter what case of lawn mower you own , prepare for mulching by determine the leaf blade , or lawn mower superlative , to its gamy setting . Then , remove the bag that collects clippings .

Step 1: Spread leaves out with a rake.

If the piles of leaves are especially deep , you may need to spread them out or clean up some from the top . Turfgrass medical specialist at Michigan State Universitysay that you’re able to mulch up to 6 inch of leafage at once , but you ’ll first require to confirm that your mower can treat a level that deep . For maximal coverage , it ’s dear to rake your leaves into a tenuous , even layer on your lawn , and then mop them .

Step 2: Shred leaves into dime-size pieces.

Mow the lawn just as if it were any other day , although it might really be the most exciting day of your life — the twenty-four hours you at last separate free from the despotism ofraking leaves . When it derive to mulching leaves with a lawn mower , the goal is to cut the leave into whit that are about a half - column inch in diam ( more or less the size of it of a dime bag ) . “ The key is to mulch the leaves to ( the right ) consistency , ” says Peter Pappas , who owns a landscape gardening ship’s company in Middlesex County , Massachusetts . “ Whole leaves mat down and compost slowly , while very ok particle may botch up by . ”

Again , it might take more than one crack with a mower to get the iota to the desire sizing , count on the leaf type and volume . When you ’re done , the leaf shreds should begin to settle between the blades of grass to break much of the lawn . A passer-by might easily be fooled into thinking you raked , so if neatness matters , mulching still can make for for you .

Step 3: Bag excess leaf mulch.

It ’s a good idea to mulch go out weekly during the pinnacle of the season so there ’s not enough time between mowings for more than 6 inch of leaves to collect . One hebdomad , countenance the mowed , chop leaves remain in spot . Then the next calendar week , add the cup of tea aggregator and run over the leaf with the mower again .

When you ’re done , if you look at the shredded leaves scattered across your lawn and think , “ I ca n’t see any skunk whatsoever , ” do this : Reattach the purse to the lawn mower and go over the grass one last time . Then , rather than toss away the collect leaves , utilise them in other ways : “ Add mulched leaf to garden bed , around bush , or in natural areas , ” aver Musto . As Pappas note , “ They provide nutrients in any of these situation . ”

Step 4: Use leaf mulch to fertilize the lawn.

Decomposing leave of absence heighten the territory with worthful nutrients that give the microbe and worm present in anyhealthy lawn . The nitrogen cost increase provided by mulched leaves may mean that you do n’t even have to fertilize in the fall .

Compared with raking , mulching farewell is easier , more lawn - friendly , and less dear , save you clock time and money spend bag leaf and fertilizing . It ’s a shame for leave-taking to sit down by the bridle in tightly knotted charge plate bags when they could be sustain your grass or garden bed .

Smart Ways to Use Leaf Mulch

In addition to only letting the leaves sit on your lawn to break down and nourish your turfgrass and its ecosystem , you could also remove the mulched bits and practice them for other role :

Other Ways to Mulch Leaves

Mowing leaves tomake your own mulchin fall is one matter you’re able to do with the overplus of leave that you get , but it is n’t the only solution . Consider these alternate methods of mulching leaves in your lawn .

FAQs

A thin layer of parting falling on the grease can create a tiny ecosystem beneath the tree , provide a home for beneficial insects and give the soil . But a thick bed mats together and can smother pasture . Mulching leaves or leaving a thin layer of fall leaves does more good than injury .

Mulching leaves and leaving a slender layer of lowly leaf bits between grass blades can actually help the grass , although leaving a thick layer of whole leave can harm the Gunter Grass . Mulching leaves rather of rake save time and keep grass salubrious .

The decision to mulch or bag leaves is up to the homeowner ( sometimes subject to homeowners association rules ) and is for the most part a thing of personal orientation . However , mulching leaves into small pieces is more environmentally friendly ; can save money , time , and manual labor ; and uses fewer plastic or report bags .

Brown leaves have fallen across a green lawn.

Photo: Getty Images

Mulched leaves make good compost and provide a soft , slow - acting way to amend dirt health . Leaves also add nitrogen to the grunge . Avoid using whole leave-taking , if possible , because they can mat and strangle the grass and soil below . Avoid certain folio type , such as those from black walnut Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , which slow flora growth if used as mulch .

Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners

We ’ll avail you set up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your patio , a raised bed , or an in - ground plot out back — and pick out the right plants for your soil and area .

A silver rake is sweeping across the top of a small pile of autumn leaves.

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A red lawn mower is shredding leaves for mulch.

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Dry brown and green leaves that are shredded from a lawn mower are collected inside a white bag.

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A person is holding a handful of mulch above a pile of leaf mulch.

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A person is using a handheld mulcher to shred leaves on a lawn.

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Young couple (heads not seen) use trowels to dig into a small raised garden bed on Astroturf, surrounded by gardening accessories.