Current:Home > StocksRake it or leave it? What gross stuff may be hiding under those piles on your lawn? -Blueprint Wealth Network
Rake it or leave it? What gross stuff may be hiding under those piles on your lawn?
View
Date:2025-04-12 06:13:45
To rake or not to rake? The debate about what to do with those leaves building up on your lawn erupts anew each fall, with lawncare enthusiasts and environmentalists alike weighing in on the pros and cons of each. While there are ecological benefits to letting your lawn go au natural, such as limiting greenhouse gas emissions from landfills and fertilizing soil, there is one major drawback for those not so fond of creepy crawlies - what's hiding in those piles. Still deciding if it's better to leave your lawn or commit to total leaf destruction? Here's what to know about some of the things that can be hanging out in that pile. Raking debate:Should I rake my leaves this fall? Experts say that's not always a good idea. Here's why. The mounds of fallen leaves on your lawn can provide the perfect cover for creepy crawlies if they are left to pile high enough. Many of these insects are seeking the best digs in preparation for the winter, and the dark, damp, warm and food-rich heaps are the perfect spot for plenty of different species. Some of the most common include ants, beetles, centipedes, millipedes, pillbugs, earwigs, spiders and ticks, according to Big Lakes Lawncare, Modern Pest Services and the Department of Entomology at Penn State. While some are harmless or even helpful besides being creepy, like centipedes, there are some you'd rather avoid, such as disease-carrying ticks. That said, leaving a light smattering of leaves on your lawn can help maintain an environment that enables important cycles in our ecosystem, according to National Geographic. A few other types of wildlife generally considered undesirable are prone to hanging out in your leaves. This can include snakes, salamanders, box turtles, toads and rodents. Attracted again by the shelter and warmth piles provide but also to the potential food source of the smaller creatures living inside, these creatures may not be the average homeowner's favorite to have around but can, again, serve important roles in maintaining the local ecosystem, says the Loudon Wildlife Society and the National Wildlife Federation. If you can, leaving some leaves for some of these species like the box turtle and salamanders is beneficial. However, no one wants rodents prone to carrying disease slipping into their homes, so if you do choose to go light on the raking, consider making sure any piles or thicker coverings are farther away from your house. Dark, damp, not often disturbed − a nice thick pile of leaves makes perfect sense as a prime growing spot for mold and fungi. According to Big Lakes Lawncare, wet piles of leaves in colder environments can attract Microdochium nivale and Typhula incarnate, two types of fungi that cause snow mold. Snow mold is a fungal lawn disease that damages and kills grass, often creating pink or grey circles or patches. Besides being unpleasant to look at, it can cause allergies and asthma. Other unwanted fungi that may lurk under leaf piles include Rhizoctonia leguminicola fungus, which turns grass brown, or red thread, a lawn disease caused by Laetisaria fuciformis, reports Homes and Gardens. One of the best ways to avoid all of this? Don't let wet piles of leaves build up and sit on your grass for long periods of time.Beetles, spiders and centipedes, oh my
Other wildlife like rodents and snakes
Mold and fungus
veryGood! (4)
Related
- Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
- Unions are relieved as the Supreme Court leaves the right to strike intact
- All My Children Star Jeffrey Carlson Dead at 48
- The U.S. added 339,000 jobs in May. It's a stunningly strong number
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- Elizabeth Gilbert halts release of a new book after outcry over its Russian setting
- Andrew Tate is indicted on human trafficking and rape charges in Romania
- For Many, the Global Warming Confab That Rose in the Egyptian Desert Was a Mirage
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- You may be missing out on Social Security benefits. What to know.
Ranking
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- Bradley Cooper Gets Candid About His Hope for His and Irina Shayk’s Daughter Lea
- How randomized trials and the town of Busia, Kenya changed economics
- A Plan To Share the Pain of Water Scarcity Divides Farmers in This Rural Nevada Community
- Intellectuals vs. The Internet
- Western Forests, Snowpack and Wildfires Appear Trapped in a Vicious Climate Cycle
- Shell plans to increase fossil fuel production despite its net-zero pledge
- Athleta’s Semi-Annual Sale: Score 60% Off on Gym Essentials and Athleisure Looks
Recommendation
Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
Journalists at Gannett newspapers walk out over deep cuts and low pay
A Plan To Share the Pain of Water Scarcity Divides Farmers in This Rural Nevada Community
Colleen Ballinger's Team Sets the Record Straight on Blackface Allegations
Trump's 'stop
Coming this Summer: Spiking Electricity Bills Plus Blackouts
CBO says debt ceiling deal would cut deficits by $1.5 trillion over the next decade
Taylor Swift Changed This Lyric on Speak Now Song Better Than Revenge in Album's Re-Recording