Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Leaf Cleanups

It's easy to have a love/hate connection with the leaves in our garden. They can provide shade while on the tree in the summer, look gorgeous as the colors change, and then give the kids and pets something to play with. However, fallen leaves aren't pleasant for long and can harm your landscape. Continue reading to learn why the importance of leaf cleanup should not be underestimated.

Why is Leaf Removal Necessary in the Winter?

While the prime season for leaf removal may be over, many trees retain their dead leaves far into the winter. As the leaves continue to fall, it is critical for your lawn's health to remove them throughout the winter so that your lawn may thrive in the spring.

Whether it's wrapping, soil aeration, or fertilizer treatments, the plants that decorate your landscape all year require a little extra TLC to make it through the winter. Here’s why leaf removal is necessary for winter:

Winter Leaf Removal Allows the Lawn to Breathe and Receive More Light.

A thick layer of leaves on your lawn can be a dangerous barrier between your grass and the

vital components and nutrients it requires. Grass requires sunshine, air, water, and nutrients to survive. Leaf litter could obstruct access to all of them.

Water may accumulate on the leaves and not reach the root system, resulting in dehydration. Photosynthesis-critical sunlight may not reach the grass. This is especially problematic in the winter, when sunshine may be scarce. You can argue that your grass doesn't require as much attention in the winter. However, it will store light energy during dormancy in preparation for the spring.

Leaf Litter on the Lawn can Attract Pests and Diseases.

When the conditions are right, snow mold and brown patches can form in rotting leaves. These viruses will then infect the grass and spread throughout the yard. This could go undetected for a long time, resulting in pricey repairs for your damaged grass in the spring. Because prevention is better than cure, remove leaves before mold can grow.

Heavy Leaf Loads Might Stunt the Growth of Your Lawn.

In the spring, you want your lawn to have new, healthy green blades of grass. You get a great dense carpet that is visually pleasing, comfortable to sit on, and easy to mow to the perfect length. However, if you do not deal with falling leaves, this ideal uniform carpet may not materialize. Winter and fall leaf cleanup operations might help to keep your lawn in shape. During certain seasons, thick mats of decaying leaves may obstruct the growth of new grass blades.