Purdue News
Purdue News
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October 22, 1999 Retire the rake and mow instead, agronomist advisesWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A lawn mower is a better tool for fall lawn cleanup than the more traditional rake, says Zac Reicher, assistant professor of agronomy at Purdue University. Using a mower offers agronomic and environmental benefits that raking and bagging leaves doesn't, he said. "Ongoing research at Purdue and other universities has found that mulching leaves with a mower can improve the soil quality of your lawn," he said. "Regular mowing during the fall will chop the leaves into small pieces and allow them to filter into the turf. Plus, it's a lot easier than raking." Reicher pointed out that mowing leaves instead of raking them means that cities don't have to bother with disposal. "Because most landfills no longer accept yard waste, municipalities spend thousands of dollars collecting, handling and composting tree leaves each year. By mowing the leaves, our cities can spend these funds on other things," he said. Regardless of the method of leaf removal, Reicher said that if you expect to have a green lawn next summer, you have to get rid of the leaves this fall. Heavy layers of fallen leaves will shade grass plants and can smother and kill them, and a cover of leaves on the lawn can lead to a very damaging winter turf disease called snow mold. "It is best to mow often while the leaves are falling, and to mow while the leaves are dry," Reicher said. "Mulching mowers are the most effective, but traditional side-discharging mowers will work. The most important thing is to break the leaves into small pieces so they will decompose rapidly." More lawn and turf information, including weekly updates by Purdue turf experts, can be found on the Internet at the Turf Tips site (http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf/tips/index.html). CONTACT: Reicher, (765) 494-9737, zreicher@dept.agry.purdue.edu Compiled by Beth Forbes, (765) 494-2722, bforbes@aes.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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