Copyright Men's Journal
Let’s be honest, raking and bagging leaves is a thankless task that’s tedious, tiring, and time consuming. But if you switch your lawnmower to mulching mode in the fall, you can cut your raking time in half, and use fewer bags to pick up your leaf piles. Mulching your leaves also provides your lawn with rich nutrients before winter hits. The secret is to switch your mower to mulching mode as soon as the leaves start to drop. Here’s how to mulch leaves the right way so you don’t have much left to rake when the time comes. How to Mulch Leaves With Your Lawnmower It’s easy! Follow these steps to get your lawn and mower ready to mulch fallen leaves. Prep your lawnmower for mulching To set yourself up for success, sharpen your lawnmower blades first before you start mulching your leaves. To do this, your machine should be completely turned off. Turn the mower upside down and use a metal file to sharpen the blades. When you’re done, put it upright. Pro tip: You only need to sharpen the blades once for the fall season. Set your lawnmower to mulching mode Mulching your leaves is a very straightforward process, but first, you need to set your mower to mulching mode. Here’s how: Remove the lawnmower grass catcher bag; you won’t need it. Set your mower to the highest cutting setting. Insert the mulching plug only if your mower model comes with one. Gear Want Greener Grass Next Spring? Here's Why It's Crucial to Aerate Your Lawn in Fall If you want lush grass come spring, now's the time to aerate and overseed your lawn. Tony Carrick Spread out leaves and mow your lawn as you normally would Mulching your leaves is like mowing your grass. You don’t have to make any significant changes to how you do it. Before you start cutting your grass, walk around your yard and remove any big twigs or branches that could damage or clog your mower. If you have any dense leaf piles, use a rake to spread the leaves out. Begin mowing your grass and mulching your leaves, using your mower the same way you do when you’re simply cutting the grass. If the leaves have only fallen in a specific section, just mow that area. Pass your mower over the leaves until they have been mulched into small pieces and they blend in with the grass. It may take a few runs to get to this point. Tip: Mulch your leaves only when they are dry. Mulching your leaves when they are wet can clog your lawnmower and put extra pressure on the engine. Gear Stop Wasting Your Grass Clippings. Here’s How to Use Them as Fertilizer for Your Lawn and Mulch for Your Garden Throwing them away is a rookie mistake. Sandra Gutierrez Benefits of Mulching Your Leaves Leaf mulching offers many benefits for your soil, the environment, and your wallet. Saves time and money for you and your town (no fall collection needed) Reduces waste (no bagging required) Provides rich nutrients for your soil Minimizes the use of fertilizers Good for the environment About the author José R. Mendoza Home DIY and Landscaping Writer José R. Mendoza has more than 10 years of experience as a home improvement professional, property manager, and a DIYer.
