“Is it necessary to rake leaves off the lawn?” is a question that many of us have asked. Some of them look rather pretty lying on the grass and are not a bother. Furthermore, they are, unquestionably, natural. If your neighbors are out there raking leaves all the time, you may well question whether they are simply guilty of being neat-freaks.
It’s a Concern of Lawn Health, not Sleekness
The reason for raking leaves pertaining to lawn health; it is not simply an appealing choice.
You have possibly heard that lawns, too, have to ” respire,” and that they can be suffocated if a thick layer of leaves is left on top of them over the winter, causing problems such as snow mold. That is true, but it is only part of the reason why we rake lawns.
Leaves Fall on the Parade of Cool-Season Grasses
Most lawns in the Northern U.S. are composed of one or more”Cool-season” lawn grasses are so called because they are most active during those periods of the year when moderately cool weather predominates.
Fall is one of those times. As we prepare for fall this is something that is important to keep in mind.
Fortunate with sufficient sunlight, nutrients and water, and enjoying temperatures that are neither too cold nor too hot, cool-season grasses revitalize themselves in fall. This is when they must “make hay,” strengthening their root systems.
But a thick layer of fallen leaves can obstruct the growth of these grasses. Why? Because they can rob the grass of one of the key elements, sunlight. If not raked in a timely manner, a thick and/or knotted layer of fallen leaves produces excessive shade over the grass below.
