Scientists: Be Lazy, Don't Rake Leaves (lawn, landscaping, lawn mower, yard)

[jillabean]

I have a postage stamp for a front and back yard (I live in a town house). I don't bother with cleaning leaves the front and back gardens other than making sure they don't smother the ground cover around my dogwood tree (I don't have grass, it's all garden and flowerbeds) because it's like free much to me.

But I do have to sweep the leaves out of my driveway because if I don't, they blow into the garage when I come and go in the car and then they get tracked into the house (and I am a super clean person, so it drives me nuts and I end up vacuuming every day). So it's either sweep or vacuum. I rather sweep--it's faster and it's fun being outside.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Why do you need to rake the leaves anyway? Oh yea, if you are doing that you must be living in one of those areas that everything dies this time of year. LOL

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by SOON2BNSURPRISE

Why do you need to rake the leaves anyway? Oh yea, if you are doing that you must be living in one of those areas that everything dies this time of year. LOL

There's a difference between dying and going dormant.

[PeachSalsa]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

There's a difference between dying and going dormant.

Exactly! My trees do not die. They drop their leaves and go to sleep for a few months. Come spring, they wake up from their nappy-poo.

[PeachSalsa]

I have lived in my home for over 20 years and have NEVER raked leaves. Not once. I do mow weekly, though, and mulch up anything that falls.

A few of my neighbors rake. Most mulch.

This year, I mowed on a Sunday and Monday morning, it was snowing.

[Basiliximab]

Originally Posted by John1960

Your honey-do list just got one item shorter, and you can tell your spouse he or she can't argue it—because scientists say so.

Scientists: Be Lazy, Don't Rake Leaves

That's good to hear. I never cared for raking leaves b/c I actually liked how they looked better strewn about the ground. I never did understand why people seemed to want them to be all raked away. Glad to hear that it seems there is some evidence that it is best to leave them all about.

[Wndy]

I thought the purpose of raking leaves into a pile was so that children could jump on them and play in the leaves..?

[Jukesgrrl]

Originally Posted by tinamcg

this is a terrible article with good intentions. Mulch the leaves on the lawn, and if you don't have a mulching lower, rake or blow the leaves into ornamental beds.

I'll also add that newser is not a place to find reliable or indepth articles about your lawn, garden or much else.

that ^^^.

[Bulldogdad]

Originally Posted by SOON2BNSURPRISE

Why do you need to rake the leaves anyway? Oh yea, if you are doing that you must be living in one of those areas that everything dies this time of year. LOL

SoCal'ers

[deadwood]

I rake my leaves into a pile and mulch them into a bagger on the lawnmower, but I take the mulch and use it my flowerbeds to help protect the perennials that go dormant over the winter. No only do they provided cover from freezing temp, the help hold moisture and by spring will be ready for tilling into the soil if desired.

After a few years of this, the beds get easier and easier to work each spring, the leaves help prevent a lot of weeds from taking hold and those that do are easy to pull out by the root due to the loose soil that resulted from the leaves being added.