Should You Rake Those Autumn Leaves In New York Or Let Them Stay?

Many of the leaves from what were beautiful trees just a few weeks ago have now fallen in New York state. The question is, what will you do with the ones that are in your yard? Are you the kind of person who feels the need to feverishly rake them out and get them out to the street to be picked up before the snow flies? Or will you just let them be and let nature have its way with them?

There are actually benefits to both trains of thought.

Why you should leave the leaves in your lawn

Believe it or not, some people leave the leaves that fall on their lawn, not because they're just lazy, but because there are some pretty major benefits to having them there.

1.  The bugs will thank you. While a lot of people don't want to have bugs in their lawn or around their house, some of them can actually be good for your lawn growth. The leaves can provide shelter for those bugs.

2. Plants need shelter too. Leaves can act like an insulator for the roots of your plants, keeping them protected from frost, and helping them to stay hydrated throughout the winter. They help to keep moisture in the soil too!

3.  They're a natural fertilizer for your lawn. Believe it or not, those leaves have nutrients in them that your lawn will eat up as the leaves break down in the spring.

4.  It could save you money.  When leaves take over fertilizing your grass, you don't have to pay to do it...or at the very least, you don't have to pay as much.

Too many leaves can be bad for your lawn though

You might want to rake up some of those leaves, though. Too many of them can be bad for your lawn, too. Just like what they say about food for humans, everything is fine in moderation.

1.  Your grass needs sun. If the leaves are completely blocking the sun from the grass, they could be killing it instead of nourishing it.

2.  Diseases and mold could be living there too. Take away the sunshine and create a moist environment because the leaves are holding in moisture, and you could have the perfect recipe for mold, which is obviously bad for your grass.

3. Yes, it's a great environment for bugs that help your lawn, but it could be providing a safe living space for bugs and other pests like moles and voles, who could do damage to your yard too.

So what will you do with the leaves this year?