The temperature has dropped, and it's changing the colors of the leaves and pumpkins are in your head. In short, autumn is upon us! As the trees begin to shed their leaves, you could be thinking, do I need to clean my leaves? Take a look at a few scenarios which could be applicable and tips for managing each.

When Should You Rake Your Leaves?

Here's what you should be aware of if you're ever tempted to throw the leaves on your lawn.

Local ordinances could apply. Some cities, as well as neighborhood HOAs, may have rules on eliminating leaves in the interest of tidiness. If this is the case, it is recommended to mow your lawn, or else you could be facing an imposed fine.

Your lawn may be damaged. If you rake your leaves as you've been instructed because debris left behind can suffocate grass which can invite diseases, pests, block the flow of water and nutrients, and hinder new grass blades from forming in the spring. Even though these issues could be a result of a thick layer of debris, it's not necessary to be concerned about taking out every single leaf to ensure your lawn is protected.

Leaves can cause other issues. In addition to risking the condition of your lawn, they can also block downspouts and storm drains, cause staining on decks made of wood, and make the sidewalks slippery.

Alternate Methods to Raking Leaves

If you'd like to have your leaves removed and you do not want to rake or make use of a leaf blower, look at these other options:

Cut the leaves. Wait until the leaves have fallen and crisp. Then, push the lawnmowers over the leaves. (If the leaves are over a certain amount of an inch thick, then you might need to rake it a bit before you start.) Mowing leaves cut them into small pieces, which allows them to provide food and protection to the grass. To do this, you can mow with no bag.

The leaves can be turned into mulch. It's acceptable to leave a small mulch of leaves that have been mowed over the lawn, but leaves can also be a perfect mulch. The process of removing chopped leaves is as simple as bagging them when you're mowing and using the vacuum included with the leaf blower. Once the leaves have been bagged, throw the leaves in the vicinity of the trees as well as in your garden beds to provide nutrients to your soil.

Leaves can be composted. No matter if the leaves are raked, blown, or mown, think about taking them in bags and adding it to the compost heap. Be aware that leaves cannot compost by themselves. They need regular turning in the correct level of moisture and additional organic materials. Find out more about the fundamentals of composting if you're interested in this disposal method.

Leave the leaves. What happens if you live in a rural area and don't have an outdoor lawn? Maybe your city doesn't need the removal of leaf litter from the property? In this case, you could choose to leave the leaves on the property, as long as you aren't bothered by the way they appear. But, not taking away the leaves may lead to the grass being suffocated under them. If the leaves do disappear or are cleaned and swept away, you may see a dwindling lawn or, even worse, dirt to be found in the spring.