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| Photo: Jon Fitzgerald |
That particular morning, I thought the Air Force Academy was doing a fly-over. The earsplitting sound was from three landscape maintenance workers operating gasoline powered leaf blowers on my neighbor's yard. Are we still out of touch about leaf removal? There is a lot of information available about the value of mowing fallen leaves into the turf but many homeowners are still collecting their leaves probably due to old school myths and childhood traditions.
In 1972, I actually collected fallen leaves from the neighborhood to add to my vegetable garden! I was a student of mulch gardening back then. Those decaying leaves do have great value for the garden as well as for the lawn. (Best to use leaves that are not diseased or have recently been sprayed for insects.) It's easy! To bring value to the lawn one only needs to mow the fallen leaves with a mulching mower to shred the leaves into small pieces. The small pieces settle down into the grass after about three days. If you have too many leaves to manage, mow regularly throughout the fall season. If you don't own a mulching mower, most mowers will accept a mulching blade. Blades are available on-line or your local hardware store can help you select and fit a blade.
There is a lot of information on this topic so I will significantly summarize.
Here are the biological benefits from numerous studies on turf leaf mulching.
1) Nutrients and organic matter is increased in the soil.
2) The soil pH does not change.
3) The carbon and nitrogen percentages in the grass increases.
4) There are no turf grass disease differences.
5) Weed control! Yes! Dandelion and crab grass control. Weed Control
And practically speaking... no raking, blowing, bagging, hauling, wasted time, back breaking labor, and landfill overload. If you use a mowing service ask them to use mulching equipment for your lawn.
Some of the science behind leaf mulch mowing comes from these institutions...
Michigan State did a study in 2004 which was published in 2010 regarding dandelion control.
Purdue Univ. did a study of various application rates of mulched leaves to turf.
In addition to many other Extension articles promoting leaf mulch mowing, Franklin Hills Country Club and Walnut Hills Country Club did studies on leaf mulch mowing methods and the benefits for their golf courses.
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| Crew members mulch leaves into the rough at Franklin Hills Country Club. Photo courtesy of Thomas Nikolai and Paul Rieke |
If you see me mowing in December it is because I am mulching the last of the autumn leaves that have blown in on the north winds. My lawn will love it!
