LEAVE those LEAVES this fall! Stop Raking and Enjoy Your Autumn!

If we told you that you could lock away that leaf blower and keep that rake in the garage this autumn, would you believe us? Well, that's exactly what experts have told us to do this year! 

NO MORE RAKING!

Do we have your attention now? 

If you’re like us, you’ve likely hoped for a good excuse to avoid this annoying chore. Experts are now saying that raking, bagging, and disposing of leaves has a negative environmental impact for several reasons. In addition to clogging up overrun landfills with plastic bags full of lawn waste, removing your leaves can harm the ecosystem of beneficial insects and wildlife living in your yard! 

We’re pretty excited to hear that there’s an environmentally friendly reason to put away the rake and save our Saturdays, but what about all the leaves? None of us want to be the one house on the block with a messy lawn. Plus, we don’t want a visit from the neighborhood association informing us that we’re in code violation. How should we handle the autumn deluge covering our yard this year? The experts say this all comes down to one simple trick that you’re likely already familiar with - mulching. 

Mulching the leaves is as simple as plowing over them with your lawn mower this fall. Wait until a few dry days to do this chore that's as simple as mowing your lawn. This will break down the leaves allowing them to decompose more quickly. It will also protect your lawn from growing mold and will turn the debris into useful mulch for your yard. 

Experts say that the mulch created from mowing your leaves will work twofold. It will fertilize the grass you have and keep weeds at bay. This means that avoiding raking is not only easier on your schedule and the environment, it’s also better for your wallet, saving valuable dollars on weed killers and fertilizer by using what nature has given you. There are countless nutrients present in those fallen leaves that will give back to your lawn’s soil once broken down. 

This hack might sound too good to be true, but trust us, the experts have spoken! Far be it from us to spend another hour raking, bagging, and hauling leaves to the curb this year. We’re excited for more hours to carve pumpkins, drink cider, and enjoy the season free from the tyranny of raking. We hope you enjoy your rake-free fall just as much as we do! 

Photo by Vlad Chetan via Pexels.com.