Leaf it alone: how skipping the rake can benefit your yard

Nov 06, 2024

Before you grab that rake and spend hours outside in the cold, you might want to think twice about what those fallen leaves can do for your yard.

Not only can leaving your leaves alone lighten your yard workload, it can also improve soil quality. You can even turn the leaves on your lawn into mulch with a lawnmower.

But if you can't leave them be, you can get rid of them through your city's Curbside Compost or Leaf Vacuum Programs.

These programs are mostly eco-friendly, but it's still not the best option for the environment.

“Picking up those leaves at the curb via our Leaf Vacuum, via our Curbside Composting Program, it is greenhouse gas emissions for transportation of those leaves," Wilch said. "There's additional processing which requires resources."

Burning the leaves isn't an option in most cities, so your best bet is to do nothing. It'll save space in landfills and reduce the environmental impacts.

Leaving your leaves is the best and easiest thing to do, and your yard will thank you.