Before you jump in and begin raking your entire yard, there are a few things you should keep in mind. You don’t have to remove every single leaf from your lawn – it can be beneficial to leave a few leaves behind.

Neil Dylla, master gardener at Northwestern Health Sciences University, recommends running a mulching mower over the leaves before you begin raking. Not only will it make cleanup easier, it will turn most of the leaves into dust which will absorb into the soil – providing more nutrients.

There are some leaves that should be removed. If you have leaf pile-up on your sidewalk or driveway, remove them as soon as possible. If they get wet, they will become slippery and increase the risk of injury. Wet leaves also tend to harbor mold and insects that can destroy your flowerbeds and grass.

You don’t have to remove leaves that are under trees, shrubs and on sturdy ground covers. During the winter months, the leaves will decompose and will act as compost. In the spring, when you go to spread mulch over these areas, you won’t have to use as much – just enough to cover the leaves. Instead of burning or bagging leaves, Dylla recommends adding them to your compost pile.

Source:  National Gardening Association