Put Fall Leaves to Work for a Healthier Lawn

Autumn leaves put on a colorful show, but once reaching the ground, they can feel like another chore. Before reaching for the rake and bags, however, consider putting your mower to work. Mulching leaves can save time, return nutrients to your lawn and reduce waste sent to landfills. 

University of Kentucky Turfgrass Extension recommends mowing leaves as part of regular lawn care. As leaves accumulate, raise the mower to its highest setting and mow when the leaves are dry so you can mow over them. A side-discharge mower can chop leaves, but a mulching mower does an especially good job of cutting them into small pieces. You can buy mulching kits and blades and add them to many mowers.  

Similar to grass clippings, tree leaves contain nutrients. Soil microorganisms gradually break down the shredded leaves, releasing nutrients the lawn can use. This natural recycling provides a slow-release source of nutrients. Some evidence even suggests that mulching leaves can reduce dandelion weed populations in lawns.    

If you prefer to collect leaves for use elsewhere in the yard, shred them before adding them to landscape beds. Avoid piling thick layers of whole leaves around plants. These layers can restrict air and water movement into the soil and keep it excessively wet, contributing to poor plant growth and disease. 

This fall, let the leaves work for you rather than treating them as waste. For more information about lawn care and using leaves in your landscape, contact your Montgomery County Cooperative Extension office. 

Source: Kenneth Clayton, Extension Associate in Turfgrass 

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