Is Raking Really Necessary? Lawn Health and Curb Appeal Reasons for Leaf Removal

The vibrant colors of autumn foliage are beautiful, even as they begin to fall. In fact, looking at the first scattered leaves across your lawn, you might be wondering, “Do I really even need to rake?” While it might be tempting to just let the leaves lay where they fall, there are actually some compelling reasons for leaf removal. Keep reading to learn why raking leaves is necessary!

Reasons to Remove Leaves from Your Lawn

Nature has its own efficient systems, but the cycle of death, decay, and nourishment that works so well in the forest doesn’t exactly fit with the needs of most suburban lawns. These are just a few of the reasons why you should rake your lawn—or let us take the landscaping chores off your hands altogether with our Marietta lawn maintenance service. 

Let the Sun Shine

One of the primary reasons to rake leaves is to ensure that the grass can get enough sunlight. If, like many homeowners in East Cobb, you have a cool-season grass like Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, or fescue, it’s especially important to make sure sunlight is able to directly hit the grass. Cool-season grasses are most active during (you guessed it) the cooler months. That’s when they do some of their most important growth, strengthening their roots in preparation for the rest of the year. If you leave a carpet of leaves over your lawn, you’re depriving the grass of important nourishment when it needs it most!

Give Grass Room to Breathe

Another reason to remove leaves from your yard affects both cool- and warm-season grasses. If there are a lot of deciduous trees in your yard (meaning trees that shed their leaves in the fall, unlike evergreens that stay green year-round), it’s especially important to remove leaves promptly. A thick layer of fallen leaves can actually smother your grass—grass needs to be able to breathe. If the leaves are too thick, and especially if your lawn is already heavily thatched or compacted, the grass won’t be able to photosynthesize carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.  

Look Sharp

Of course, the other reason to remove leaves from your lawn is simply aesthetic. Piles of leaves can make your landscaping look untidy and detract from the overall manicured look of your home. Leaf removal provides an easy curb appeal boost. If you plan to decorate for the holidays, it also helps to have a clean, neat slate to work from. That way you can keep the focus on your decorations and your beautiful home! 

What to Do With Raked Leaves

 Just because you remove leaves from the lawn doesn’t mean they’re going to waste. You can shred them to use as mulch, add them to your compost pile, or make leaf mold to use as a fertilizer and soil amendment. 

Give us a call at 770-509-5191 to learn more about our Marietta lawn maintenance and landscaping services!