Need an Excuse to Get Out of Raking Leaves?

Need an excuse not to rake the leaves in your yard this fall? Well the National Wildlife Federation is here for you.

A blog at the NWF website said that leaving the leaves where they are befits wildlife and your lawn.

The article describes the leaf layer as its own ecosystem.

"Critters ranging from turtles and toads to birds, mammals and invertebrates rely on leaf litter for food, shelter and nesting material. Many moth and butterfly caterpillars overwinter in fallen leaves before emerging in spring." the NWF wrote on its website.

The post goes on to say that the leaves make a great natural mulch and help suppress weeds.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that leaves and other yard debris account for more than 13 percent of the nation’s solid waste. That is 33 million tons a year.  Joe Lamp'l, author of the Green Gardener's Guide, says that without enough oxygen to decompose, this organic matter releases methane.

The post goes on to say that the leaves make a great natural mulch and help suppress weeds.

Now for those who simply don't want to deal with the site of a messy yard, the NWF recommends not using leaf blowers. Instead, the NWF says to compost the leaves or drop them off at a municipal recycling center. You can also rake leaves off the lawn but still use them as mulch in your planting beds.