A thick layer of leaves can block sunlight, shading the turf and reducing growth, but mulching leaves with a lawnmower and leaving them in place is an easy and environmentally friendly solution.
As cooler weather approaches, Virginia lawns will soon be covered with fallen leaves. Many homeowners may feel pressure to rake, bag, and haul them away, but Mike Goatley, Virginia Cooperative Extension turfgrass Extension specialist, says there is a better option.
“People are right to be concerned about a thick layer of leaves covering their grass,” Goatley said. “If there are too many, leaves can block sunlight, shading the turf and reducing growth. Leaves also trap and hold moisture, increasing the potential for turf disease.”
While some leaf maintenance is necessary, simply mulching leaves with a lawnmower and leaving them in place is an easy and environmentally friendly solution for most residential lawns. Learn more about “leaf” them alone leaf management in this Virginia Cooperative Extension publication.
The best way to leave your leaves:
Use a rotary mower for leaf mulching, but not a stump grinder or chipper/shredder.
Inspect the area and remove sticks and limbs before mulching to reduce the chance that you or someone else could be hurt by flying debris.
Wear safety goggles and an air mask over your mouth and nose to protect yourself from debris and dust.
Mulching moist leaves minimizes dust concerns, but if leaves are too wet, it increases the strain on your mower’s engine and does not chop the leaves into small pieces that easily decompose in the soil.
Consider the limitations of the mower itself. Don’t try to mulch more than six inches of leaves at a time.
Goatley said that while leaving leaves in place on turf may provide some nutrient benefit to your lawn, it is not a substitute for routine soil testing and proper fertilizer application.
“There have been numerous studies on the effect of leaf mulching for turf, and they show that the impact on turf is positive and economical,” he said.
By rethinking traditional fall cleanup habits, homeowners can reduce yardwork stress, cut disposal costs, and help the environment at the same time.
Virginia Tech
