Leave the Leaves

Shredding leaves with a mulching mower will allow leaves to decompose quickly and actually benefit the lawn by adding organic matter and nutrients. While leaving a thick layer of leaves on your lawn can smother the grass and block sunlight, a light layer of leaves will break down over time.

We have a template letter you can use to help let your landscaping company know you’d like to change up your leaf routine this fall. It includes details for landscapers and a clear list of steps to leave more leaves in your yard.

The decomposition rate of leaves depends on the type of leaves and the environmental conditions. Shredded leaves decompose faster, usually within a few months, while whole leaves can take up to a year or more.

Leaves from Black Walnut trees, contain compounds that can inhibit plant growth.

Magnolia, Holly, Ginkgo, Sycamore and Beech leaves are heartier and take longer to break down-- these should be shredded to speed their decomposition.

Oak leaves are slightly acidic, but fortunately that acidity breaks down as the leaves decompose. Shredding these leaves speeds up the decomposition process and helps neutralize their effect on soil pH.

A regular lawn mower works sufficiently well to cut up leaves as long as you're not trying to mulch too thick a layer at once. But for improved performance...

• Simple blade swap: You can easily upgrade a regular mower to a mulching mower by switching to mulching blades. This is cost-effective and straightforward, improving your mower's performance by eliminating the need for multiple passes and reducing clumping of clippings.

• Or try a mulching kit: These kits typically include mulching blades and a deck plug. The blades are specially designed to chop grass and leaves, while the deck plug closes the discharge chute to keep the clippings under the deck, allowing them to be further shredded.

  • Blade height: Set your mower blade to around 2.5" to 3" for optimal results. Cutting too low can compact the leaves and stress the mower, while cutting too high might not mulch effectively.
  • Leaf size: Shred leaves into dime-sized pieces by mowing over them multiple times.
  • Timing: Mulch often and avoid letting leaves accumulate into thick mats. Don't mulch on wet days to prevent clumping and ensure even distribution.

Yes! Even in small yards, you can shred leaves with a mower, use them as mulch, or add them to a compost bin. Every bit helps, and smaller spaces can benefit greatly from the added organic matter.

Raking leaves into garden beds or mulching them into the lawn can help keep them in place. Additionally, creating windbreaks with shrubs or fencing can reduce leaf movement.

Try using one of the above methods to leave as many as you can! But if you still need to rake some to the curb for the city vacuum service, please avoid placing them in the street as much as possible. Leaves in the street can clog storm drains, create slippery conditions for cyclists, and accelerate the runoff of phosphorus and nitrogen into our waterways which has detrimental effects on aquatic life.