The Rake or Mulch Debate
As fall continues, those beautiful fall colors end up all over your lawn. We’re talking about leaves! But just how should you clean up all the leaves on your lawn? Should you rake or mulch? Is one better?
Mulching Leaves
Mulching leaves is great for soil health. Leaves are generally nitrogen rich, and nitrogen is an important nutrient for a healthy lawn. To get the most benefit from mulching, you have to keep up with your lawn maintenance. Dry leaves mulch much better than wet leaves. Additionally, if there is too much leaf coverage, mulching is no longer a suitable option if you want a healthy lawn.
Mulching requires that you regularly maintain your lawn; sometimes 2-3 times a week to be sure that the leaves are adequately shredded. If leaves are not shredded into small enough pieces, they will not decompose quickly enough. Furthermore, an overabundance of leaves can lead to thatch buildup.
Thatch can build up if leaves are not reduced to a small enough size and/or too many leaves are mulched. If you have thick leaf coverage, mulching leaves will not be the best option for you.