Instead of raking, try mulching: a quick fix for autumn leaf cleanup
German portal Chip.de suggests that instead of raking fallen autumn leaves, homeowners can simply mulch them with a lawn mower and leave them on the lawn as natural fertilizer. The method is not advised if the leaves show signs of fungal disease.
As autumn sets in, many garden and property owners face one of the season's least favorite chores — raking fallen leaves. German portal Chip.de offers a way to make this task significantly easier using a tool most households already own: the lawn mower.
Mulching instead of raking
Opinions vary online on whether fallen leaves are better left on the lawn or collected and removed. Some experts and garden equipment manufacturers recommend a simpler alternative — regularly mowing over the leaves to chop them into small pieces and leaving them in place. Over time, the mulched leaves serve as natural fertilizer for the lawn, saving the time and effort that raking would otherwise require, while also avoiding the need to burn or haul away leaf piles.
When the method doesn't work
For this approach to succeed, mowing needs to happen regularly, so the layer of mulched leaves never grows thick enough to block sunlight from reaching the grass. However, if the leaves show visible damage or signs of fungal disease, the portal advises against this method, recommending the traditional approach instead — collecting and removing the leaves from the lawn to prevent the spread of disease.
