Submitted by graemeknows t3_z2rxny in massachusetts
Comments
tobiasrfunke t1_ixjl1az wrote
You can't just leave them, at least not in Massachusetts. They need to be mulched, or they won't break down. And mulching is still work.
SnacksCCM t1_ixm01o3 wrote
Precisely this. Your grass would be dead (little to no sunlight/"suffocated") and you'd (likely) have weeds & tree sprouts everywhere if you just left deciduous leaves as they fell. The best thing to do (IMO) is:
(1) Yes, not obsess over them (even if you do a perfect job, it's windy all winter and leftovers or your neighbor's leaves will eventually blow through - make peace with a few leaves out there, the place still looks great.)
(2) Do a decent job mulching most of them, it reduces erosion, feeds the grass, and avoids blocking the sunlight. Oh, and it's usually easier to do than raking/moving/collecting them all.
SynbiosVyse t1_ixju1s8 wrote
Can't just leave them alone, you need to do a certain level of maintenance.
joshutchings t1_ixlf6pc wrote
Agreed mostly but I’d mulch them
ksoops t1_ixlxe34 wrote
Forested lot. If I left them all it would be a disaster
B-Roc- t1_ixi19cy wrote
The leaves and the wind always wait until the day after you're "done".
kidcrush187 t1_ixi0cai wrote
Looks good.
graemeknows OP t1_ixi150s wrote
Thanks! It's a labor of love.
[deleted] t1_ixignsr wrote
[removed]
-Im-A-Little-Teapot_ t1_ixi9ugz wrote
Just leaf it there. Eventually the wind will blow it over to the neighbors property and they can deal with it.
NoMoLerking t1_ixinqez wrote
I look forward to reading the “my neighbor is a piece of shit” post once the leaf finds its way over the border.
PakkyT t1_ixj6lja wrote
I have a few specific trees that will hold their leaves and then drop all of them on the same day, usually after clean up. I have a couple others that literally don't fall off until the snow knocks them off.
greymaresinspace t1_ixj7nmz wrote
Dad??
graemeknows OP t1_ixj9nmi wrote
I speak for all the Dads.
greymaresinspace t1_ixk3002 wrote
dads seem to have a really adversarial relationship with leaves
"Damnit... if I could, I would get rid of all these firggin trees out here!"
My dad 1977-2022
graemeknows OP t1_ixkczvk wrote
It's a thing.
EagleRose1971 t1_ixje5ih wrote
And don’t forget, they multiply come April.
graemeknows OP t1_ixjjpx2 wrote
GODDAMMIT
Unique-Public-8594 t1_ixi1m90 wrote
Why you should leave the leaves:
https://www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2015/OctNov/Gardening/Leave-the-Leaves
Dude. Spend your time working at a food pantry, not obsessing over leaves.