What is Leaf Mulch?

Leaf mulch is the result of finely shredding fall leaves. As these fine leaf shreds decompose, the nutrients and minerals contained within the leaf are released, recycled into the soil. Additionally, the finely textured mulch adds air pockets to your soil, allowing better oxygenation, as well as enhanced water retention. Leaf mulch can be left in-place on the lawn, used as a landscape bed mulch or used in a compost pile.

Will shredded Fall leaves harm my lawn?

Many landscapers (such as out trainers) have been doing LELE for a number of years - they would not be doing this process if the results damaged the turf quality the following year! (Read their testimonials.)

Scientific research concerning leaf mulching on turf has been compiled by LELE team and by folks at the Westchester Cornell Cooperative Extension offices.

What is Grass-Cycling?

Grass-cycling simply refers to the process of leaving your grass clippings in place on your lawn as you mow. Since your mower is left in its "mulching" configuration, mowing both grass and fall leaves provides a 3-season solution to lawn care, while yielding all of the benefits discussed on this site (e.g.; time savings, cost savings, green house gas reductions, soil enhancement).

The average lawn produces 1,500 pounds of grass clippings - clippings from a 1,000 square foot lawn contribute 1/2 to 1 pound of nitrogen back into the soil. Clippings can provide up to 1/3 of the annual feeding requirements of your lawn. Clippings left in place can also help block weed germination.*

Note that according to Cornell recommendations, for best effect, grass should be mowed no lower than 3" to 3.5" and your mower blades should be kept sharp. If the grass is wet, several passes may be required to effectively (finely) mulch the cut blades. Done properly, grass-cycling will not create a buildup of thatch.

* From presentation on Backyard Conservation - Lawn Care Practices developed by the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. (Summary taken from slides 10 & 11. See also slides 12-14 for more discussion of leaf mulching.)  Read the entire presentation with speaker's notes (.pdf) on grass-cycling, leaf mulching, and water management in turf care. Also, be sure to get their 4 Simple Steps to Lawn Care.

• Get the Westchester County Brochure about Grasscycling.
• Get the Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts Brochure on Backyard Conservation: Lawns and the Environment.
• Get the Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts powerpoint presentation (as a .pdf) concerning Backyard Conservation.
• Get the Montgomery County. MD brochure (.pdf) on Grasscycling - highly recommended.
• Get this short article filled with Grasscycling tips (.pdf).
• Get this article on "The Benefits of Mulching Explained" (.pdf).