Why Rake Leaves in the Fall

The most important benefit of raking leaves is that it will help your grass grow. A thick layer of fallen leaves can deprive grass of sunlight, which gets in the way of the growth of some cool-season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass, which revitalize themselves in the fall.

Why you should not rake leaves in the fall?

Wildlife Habitat of Leaf Litter The leaves are a natural habitat for butterflies, salamanders, chipmunks, box turtles, toads, shrews, earthworms and others. They lay eggs in the leaves and feed on and under the leaf layer. By raking or blowing leaves, you disrupt their life cycle and eliminate beneficial insects.

Is it better to rake leaves in the fall or spring?

While you can certainly wait until spring to rake up the leaves, be prepared to deal with other resulting yard and garden issues that may become apparent at that time. … Passing over the leaves with the mower a few times is often enough to shred them into small pieces.