PPDL Picture of the Week
December 5, 2016
Mowing and Leaf Removal
John Orick, Purdue Master Gardener State Coordinator, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University
In late fall, leaf removal from
lawns and landscapes is a common maintenance activity for homeowners. This
season’s warmer fall temperatures have increased the time period for completing
this chore before winter. But, don’t delay, heavy leaf debris allowed to remain
on lawns during winter can cause thinning of the turf by preventing light from
reaching the leaves, reducing or blocking photosynthesis for turf plants
growing under the debris. Lawns with heavy leaf debris remaining on the turf
through winter are also more susceptible to snow mold, a winter fungal disease,
which can cause damage to turf. Mulching leaves with a rotary mower several
times throughout fall is a great way to remove leaves from lawns without
raking, blowing, or bagging. When choosing to mulch leaves, dryer leaves mulch
more easily and homeowners should not try to shred too many leaves in a single
mowing. Choosing mulching as a method of leaf removal may also help improve
soil health and add nutrients to the lawn through the return of shredded plant
debris to the soil. If the leaf debris is too thick, the homeowner will need to
remove leaves from the lawn using a rake, blower, or other equipment.
Turfgrass
extension specialists recommend that lawn turf be mowed at a height of 3 inches
or higher throughout the growing season. Homeowners should continue to mow
lawns at the recommended height until the turf enters dormancy in late-fall.
Continuing to mow home lawns right up to dormancy mulches late fallen leaves
and may help prevent snow mold diseases.
Homeowners
should always avoid mowing, leaf removal, or other maintenance activities on
frost covered or frozen turf.
Related
Articles and Publications:
Mowing, Dethatching, Aerifying, and
Rolling Turf (AY-8-W). https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/ay/ay-8-w.pdf
Worrying about falling leaves may be ‘mulch’ ado about
nothing, Purdue News, October 22,
2001, http://www.purdue.edu/uns/html4ever/011022.Reicher.mulch.html
Turfgrass Disease Profiles: Gray Snow Mold (BP-101-W). https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/BP/BP-101-W.pdf
Turfgrass Disease Profiles: Pink Snow Mold (BP-102-W). https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/bp/bp-102-w.pdf