As the nights get longer and the leaves turn chocolate-brown , lawn possessor everywhere pass for their rake . This year , experts say that thefallritual ofraking leavesmight make you miss an chance to give your lawn a wellness rise .

rather , rent a lean layer of leaves sit and then decompose on your lawn will give the underlying soil a rich reward of organic nutrient .

Susan Barton , a professor of landscape painting horticulture at the University of Delaware toldThe New York Timesthat this practice would ameliorate territory wellness . “ A timberland has the richest soil there is , and that go on because leave are falling off the trees and decomposing in good order there and organic material are going back into the grunge , ” she said . “ We should be doing that in all of our landscape , but we ’re not . ”

A recentanalysisof the chemicals released by folio litter rule that nutrient like atomic number 7 and atomic number 15 could furnish a “ pregnant positive effect ” on grease microorganisms , which make a huge contribution to the overall health of your lawn .

As well as helping soil - bound critters , leaving leaf may benefit bigger animals too . “ The fallen leaf level is really [ a ] really crucial wildlife habitat . All sorts of creatures rely on that for their survival as a place where they can find food and cover , and in many cases even complete their animation cycle , ” David Mizejewski , a naturalist at the National Wildlife Federation toldThe Washington Post . Moths , bees , chipmunks , and hiss may all profit from a leafy hiding bit , he said .

This does n’t mean you should depart every leafage . A compact stratum of leaves could smother your grass , so letting 20 - 50 % of leave lie is a nice correspondence , tell Diana Alfuth of the University of Wisconsin . Shewritesthat small amounts of leaf can be leave , whereas prominent piles of leave should be mulched with a lawnmower to help release their nutrient .

By following Alfuth ’s instructions , you ’ll still be leave with little piles of leaves . Rather than taking them to the dump , where they will break down in anaerobic atmospheric condition that promote the exit of greenhouse gases , the experts say the best exercise is toreuse themas compost after chopping them up with a lawn mower . That way , you ’ll have a protective mulch stratum for strong wintertime frosts or valuable nutrients for a fresh season of increase in outpouring .

H / TMentalfloss