When should you rake those autumn leaves?
Oct 18, 2024, 6:00 AM
Before picking up a rake, check how many leaves are covering your lawn. Estimate the percentage of cover there is. (Canva)
(Canva)
SALT LAKE CITY — You may be itching to rake all those autumn leaves off your lawn, but should you? How do you know when it’s actually time to start raking?
Why leaves change color in autumn
The process of trees going dormant starts in late August into September when there’s less daytime and more nighttime, said KSL Greenhouse Host Taun Beddes. When trees go dormant, they drastically reduce their growth and hold steady for spring.
“They stay green, but instead of focusing on growing new branches, they focus on storing energy in the roots,” said Taun. “Through late summer they store all the energy they can.”
How does this affect the leaves? The trees stop producing the pigments they use to collect the sun’s energy, such as chlorophyll and carotenoids.
“What you will see in a leaf is that the green pigment breaks down first, and what’s left over are yellows, oranges, and maybe reds,” said Taun. “They take longer to break down, and the leaves eventually turn brown.”
To rake or not to rake?
Whole autumn leaves can be left in your gardens and sometimes even in your flower beds because they can insulate the soil. However, it’s a slightly different story when they’re on your lawn.
Before picking up a rake, check how many leaves are covering your lawn. Estimate the percentage of cover there is.
“If you only have 10% cover and you can mostly see the lawn, leave the leaves alone. They’re fine,” Taun said. “At 50% cover, you want to mow them, but you can leave them on the lawn. When you have 100% cover, they need to be raked or mowed and collected so that they don’t smother.”
If snow lands on those leaves, oxygen won’t be able to penetrate through, which can cause your lawn to rot underneath.
Read more from the KSL Greenhouse show:
- Got green tomatoes? Here’s how you can ripen them
- Getting your garden ready for next spring
- A horticulturist’s guide to storing your fruits and vegetables
KSL Greenhouse is on every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Follow the show on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and on our website.
