Is it Better to Rake or Mulch Leaves?

Rake with fallen leaves in the park. Janitor cleans leaves in autumn. Volunteering, cleaning, and ecology concept.

As fall approaches, you may face a common dilemma: Is it better to rake or mulch leaves? That depends on things like the size of your lawn, the health of your soil, how much time you have, the amount of leaves you have, and what you want your yard to look like.

Should you rake or mulch leaves?

As they fall and settle in your yard, leaves can smother grass, encourage mold, and create a messy appearance. To efficiently manage leaves, most people use a mix of raking and mulching

You may rake leaves in areas you want to keep tidy. Diana Alfuth, Extension Educator with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, says it all comes down to percentages and the look of your lawn.

“If you have just a few leaves, such as 20 percent of the lawn covered, you can just ignore them. They will blow around, settle in, and break down on their own. If you have a moderate amount of leaves, such as 50 percent coverage, you still don’t need to rake.”

However, “If you have a thick layer of leaves, where you can barely see any signs of grass beneath them, then it’s best if you remove some of the leaves to prevent matting and smothering of the grass.

Similarly, you can apply mulch in garden beds or where the soil needs extra care

“You don’t need to get every last leaf, but if you remove a significant amount of them, then you can mow the rest up and leave them on the lawn. Those raked up leaves can be a valuable resource, and used in composting, winter mulching, or saved until spring for mulching in vegetable or flower gardens,” Alfuth adds.

Ultimately, whether you rake or mulch leaves (or both) depends on:

  • Your personal preferences
  • The size of your lawn; large lawns with scattered leaves can benefit from mulching, while raking can prevent smothering in small lawns with lots of leaves
  • The health of your soil
  • How much time you can invest in maintaining your landscape
  • The amount of leaves you have
  • The type of leaves you have; some leaves take longer to decompose, so raking may be best
  • How well your soil drains; if your yard is wet or prone to mold, raking is safer to prevent fungal diseases

The pros and cons of raking

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Pros of raking leaves:

  • A clean yard: When your yard is leaf-free, it looks tidy and maintained, enhancing your overall curb appeal.
  • Prevent diseases: Fungal diseases can develop among decomposing leaves. These include powdery mildew, downy mildew, leaf spot, and rust. Raking makes your yard less vulnerable to such diseases.
  • Less thatch: Less leaves equals less organic material that could contribute to thatch buildup. However, raking alone won’t completely prevent thatch, as other factors contribute to its formation.
  • Have a clean canvas: If you prefer DIY lawn care and need a clear surface for other tasks such as fertilizing, overseeding, or aerating, raking your leaves is a great place to start.

Cons of raking leaves:

  • Takes time and effort: Raking can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, especially if you have a large yard or lots of trees. The repetitive nature of it can be hard on your shoulders, back, and arms.
  • Can cause soil erosion: Raking can expose your yard to the elements, increasing the risk of erosion.
  • Can be inefficient: With raking, you can miss picking up some leaves, so you’ll have to repeat the process.
  • Can cause grass and plant damage: Depending on how aggressively you rake, you can damage the grass underneath and uproot plants.

The pros and cons of mulching

Mulch made using leaves
Photo Credit: Pxhere

Pros of mulching leaves:

  • Improves soil health: Mulching boosts the soil’s nutrient content, enhances moisture retention, and improves soil structure.
  • Reduces waste: “Mulching leaves reduces the amount of space they take up in landfills, which can be better used for other debris,” says Maximum Effort Cuts Owner Jeffery Chenier. This helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste processing costs.
  • Suppresses weeds: A layer of mulch blocks sunlight and prevents weed seeds from germinating.
  • Regulates soil temperature: Mulch keeps the soil warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It acts as an insulating layer to reduce stress on plant roots and help them survive potentially extreme temperatures.
  • Limits soil erosion: Mulch keeps the soil in place and protects it from heavy rain or strong winds. This is especially helpful on slopes or in gardens with loose soil vulnerable to erosion.
  • Minimizes soil compaction: Mulch protects the soil from heavy foot traffic and machinery or vehicle weight, reducing compaction and allowing plants and grass to grow undisturbed.
  • Saves water: Mulch helps retain soil moisture and reduces evaporation, benefiting your soil and plants during dry spells. As a result, you won’t have to water as much.
  • Saves time and resources: Lawn and garden care require time and effort. As you reduce fertilizing, aeration, watering, and weeding, you can spend your time doing other things.
  • Helps you use leaves responsibly: A mulching mower or shredder can quickly cut the leaves into smaller pieces to spread over your lawn or garden beds.

Cons of mulching leaves:

  • Can smother your lawn: Mulching can suffocate your lawn if the leaf layer is too thick or wet. A 2- to 3-inch layer is usually best.
  • Can make your lawn unattractive: Mulched leaves can create a less clean look than a freshly raked yard.
  • Can cause a nutrient imbalance: Mulching adds nutrients to the soil, but going overboard can actually cause an imbalance, affecting plant and grass health and requiring soil amendments to fix.
  • Can be costly: If you have to purchase new equipment to mulch leaves, such as a mulching mower, you may think twice about this practice.

FAQ about raking or mulching leaves

What does leaf mulching entail?

According to the University of Minnesota’s turfgrass expert Sam Bauer, “Successfully mulching leaves into a lawn canopy requires more frequent mowing in the fall and possibly several passes with the mower to mulch the leaves sufficiently.”

“Specialized mulching mowers can also be purchased, and these mower types will also be beneficial year-round to mulch grass leaves into the canopy. Chopping leaves into small pieces is important,” he adds.

What are the best ways to remove leaves from your yard?

Some common ways to remove leaves from your yard include:

  • Raking the leaves
  • Blowing the leaves
  • Mulching the leaves
  • Vacuuming the leaves

Failure to remove leaves can lead to pest, disease, weed, and water absorption issues. Not to mention that your curb appeal will suffer.

How do I mulch very large leaves?

Large, thick leaves, such as oak, maple, or sycamore, will require several passes with your mulching mower for a fine cut. Check the fragments after the first mow to see if you have to go over them again.

Get expert help when you need it

Both raking and mulching come with extensive benefits for your yard, and sometimes a combination of the two is best.

If you find this task daunting or you’re unsure which method is best for your landscape, Lawn Love can connect you with a local leaf removal specialist. Depending on your needs, you’ll also have access to other lawn care services.

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Andie Ioó

In my free time, I enjoy traveling with my husband, sports, trying out new recipes, reading, and watching reruns of '90s TV shows. As a way to relax and decompress, I enjoy landscaping around my little yard and DIY home projects.