Raking those Fall Leaves?…
Many people go to the trouble and effort of raking up leaves when they fall onto the lawn grass. There is nothing wrong with that except you have to exert good physical effort and risk a sore back; and then have to decide what to do with the raked up leaves. If you have a good sized yard, this could take some time which you could otherwise be spending on other necessary activities.
Do this instead…
Use your lawn mower and mulch the leaves into the lawn. Not only does it save time and energy but it also feeds the grass. I do this every year as our lawn is 1.25 acres and we have many leafy trees! If you have a good mulching mower complete with a mulching kit you have what you need. If your mower doesn’t currently mulch, you may be able to purchase a mulching kit for it from the manufacturer or Amazon or eBay.
Mulching…
- Can be fun!
- Saves you time!
- Saves aches and pains!
- Feeds the lawn!
- Makes the yard look neat!
Best Mulching Practices…
- Timing is key! (grass not too tall/not too wet)
- Allow grass to grow to 4-6 inches tall
- Use mower with mulching kit
- Use fresh gasoline (unless using electric mower)
- Raise mower deck to highest setting
- Mow in Clockwise Direction
- Work from the outside in
Timing is key.
Stop your regular yard mowing about the time the leaves just start to fall off the trees. Allow the grass to grow until it is approx. 4-6 inches tall. Taller grass better catches the leaves, prevents the wind from blowing them around and holds them in place so the mower blades don’t readily blow them out of the way as you mulch. A couple dry days or several days (better yet) is the optimal time to mulch. It is OK if the leaves are damp as damp leaves don’t blow away so easily.
Before starting;
Raise the mower deck to the highest setting before starting.
It may take a couple of passes to mulch the leaves in to your liking.
Lawn mowers usually discharge to the right with the blades spinning in clockwise direction. Therefore, you want to mow in a circular clockwise direction working from the outside in. This will help redirect loose leaves into the taller uncut grass.
If leaves pile up towards the front or behind the front wheels, stop, drive in reverse for a few feet and then proceed forward again taking 1/2 a cut into the leaves instead of a full cutting width. With a little practice you’ll get into a groove and the task should go fairly smooth.
When mulching is completed…
What I like to do is momentarily park my Craftsman riding mower next to my yard debris burn pile, disengage the blades and remove the discharge chute cover. Next I clear off the grass and leaves from the top and underside of the mower deck (you don’t want damp material sitting on there to cause rust). With the discharge chute off, I re-engage the mower blades and drive around for a few minutes (going over any areas that need a quick touch-up) as this helps to dry out the mower deck before putting it away.
In summary…
With a little preparation along with the right technique will make for a nice mulching experience whenever those fall leaves visit your lawn again. In the past you may have considered fall clean up as “work”; But with the “mower mulch method” you may just find yourself having fun and enjoying the ride!
Happy Mulching!