First day of fall is today — what is the ONE yard chore actually worth doing this weekend?
It is officially fall and the leaves are already coming down in my yard. I have a small yard, one free afternoon, and zero desire to spend the whole weekend raking. Is mulch-mowing with my regular mower enough, or will I regret not raking and bagging? What do you actually do the first weekend of fall?
2 answers
- Mulch mow and spend $0
Raking and bagging is paying to throw away free fertilizer. Run your mower over the leaves with the bag off and let the clippings feed the lawn — county extension services have recommended this for years, and a mulched lawn greens up faster in spring. Only exception: if the leaf layer is so thick you cannot see grass, rake half of it. For one afternoon and zero dollars, mulching wins.
- Mulch mow, skip the bags
Mulch mow. Deck up high, two passes in different directions, done in an hour. Bagging leaves is a racket unless you have diseased trees or a walnut dropping everywhere. The shredded leaves feed the lawn over winter and you never touch a rake. Only exception: if the layer is so thick the grass disappears, then rake that spot. Otherwise mower wins.