Ongoing debate with my wife. We're in Illinois, and the leaves are from a large cottonwood tree. My wife says we should just mow over the leaves; I think this would be bad for the grass and we need to rake at least some of it.
What say you all?
by Steerider
31 Comments
Mow over twice
Mulch.
Mow, it’ll be fine
Mow with mulch setting if available.
Mulching blades, mulching mode on deck, and do two passes if you need to.
You shouldn’t debate your wife. She’s always right.
Mow over until it’s all tiny little pieces. Use the mulch setting if you have it. It will actually benefit your grass and save your back. Unfortunately you’ll have to admit to your wife that she was right.
Mow
Hell yea. 3x
Don’t do while wet. Made this mistake and never recovered on new fescue.
Mulch. I have a giant oak tree that ends up dumping about 2 feet of leaves in a section of my back yard. I just put the mulching plug on my riding mower and raise the deck then go to town. Takes a lot of passes but eventually it all turns to dust and disappears.
Mow it. If you have mulching blades will be great for the grass. I mow a ton more than that from two burr oaks.
Mow them with the chute closed. 2-3 times if needed. Can also hit them with a leaf blower after to spread out any thick spots that may concern you.
I mulch them up until leaves are done falling then run a lawn sweeper to pick up the excess. The bits that remain are good for the soil/lawn
I think the only time it’s really too much to mow is if it’s like multiple layers/inches of leaves. If you can still see grass it’s most likely fine. If it makes you feel better just spread around some of the larger piles before you mow
Mow and feed that grass
Your wife is right
Mow it. Good for the grass. Check if you have a mulching blade.
Mow it. That’s free fertilizer for your grass and more importantly, your trees.
Your trees need the nutrients from those decomposing leaves for energy. Taking them away starves them and negatively impacts their health.
yes
First mow high so you don’t create a plow. Then drop the deck to just high enough not to create a plow. Happy yard.
Well you’re certainly not right. It’s good for the grass, basically free fertilizer that you’re wasting by collecting.
So listen to your wife, she’s right, just mow it.
Mulch them. That’s free fertilizer.
You can mulch up to about 6 inches of leaves and it won’t hurt the grass, so this is nothing.
lol
Mow it twice using mulching blades that will be good for your grass.
Mow Mow Mow until it snows. Good for the lawn and easier on your back than raking
Just mowed mine and I had A LOT more. Had to do it in the driveway, because my Ego mower has shit suction and I need to drop the height to 1.5inch. Then blew it all back onto grass. I think my neighbor thought I was insane mowing my driveway.
Mulch setting, mow twice = free fertilizer
Mulch baby. Free nitrogen.
Mow twice and in different directions, then do the same tomorrow and the next day and the next day.
I love my trees until the fall.
If youre one of those guys that are completely bored to death, rake them. If youve got anything else to do, including watching TV, mow them