Skip the Rake This Fall: Use This Simple Tool to Handle Leaves Easily

For many people in the United States, autumn is the favorite season. Pumpkin patches, football, and trick-or-treating are highlights of October, and the cooler air makes it easier to spend time outdoors, whether playing sports or taking a walk. For some, it is also a calmer stretch before the busy holiday season. For others, though, it brings a list of chores. Dressing up the front porch with scarecrows and jack-o'-lanterns can be enjoyable, but cleaning up fallen leaves is probably not how most people want to spend their weekends.

Many homeowners reach for rakes or leaf blowers to gather leaves and then bag them for disposal. Clearing them away is not just about appearance; it can also help keep grass healthier. If leaves are left in place, mold or fungi can build up over the winter. Wet leaves can also be slippery, and thick piles of dead leaves may attract animals you would rather not have in the yard, such as rodents or snakes. Still, in an increasingly eco-conscious world, lawn and garden experts have another suggestion for autumn cleanup: mow the leaves.

Keep calm and mow on

If your mower is already stored for the season, it may be worth bringing it back out or looking into a mulching mower. Mowing leaves is faster than raking and bagging, and it can also benefit both your yard and the environment. When shredded leaves are left on the grass, they decompose and return nutrients to the soil. A thin layer of chopped leaves can also help insulate the ground, hold in moisture, discourage weeds, and protect root systems. On top of that, you avoid adding to municipal waste. The Environmental Protection Agency says American yard waste added 35.4 million tons to landfills in 2018.

A mulching mower uses a blade designed differently from the one on a standard mower. These models are available in both ride-on and push varieties, and they cut leaves into finer pieces, which makes them a strong option for this task. If you do not own a mulching mower and do not want to buy one, a regular mower can still work. You may need to make several passes to break the leaves into small enough pieces. If the shredded leaves clump together afterward, a quick pass with a rake can help spread them evenly across the yard. That means more time for football or a pumpkin spice latte, and a yard that should be in good shape by spring.