Here on our Littleton, Colorado, farm, I do not bother raking the leaves. While we have a large number of deciduous trees and shrubs, I'm inclined to let nature handle their autumn debris. Besides, it can be entertaining, watching the leaf armies race across our driveway and "lawns."
In this semiarid climate, the leaves rarely get bogged down by precipitation; they may be stabilized by a snowfall for a day or two but the intense Colorado sun rapidly frees them to rustle across the landscape once again. Eventually, the armies settle down beneath the shrub lines and wood borders, providing fertilizer for next spring's growth.
It's a win-win situation. Entertainment and no work for me and natural nutrients for our trees and shrubs. The mounded leaves also offer winter protection for many invertebrates, at least until they are discovered by the birds, mice, raccoons and skunks that visit the farm.
In this semiarid climate, the leaves rarely get bogged down by precipitation; they may be stabilized by a snowfall for a day or two but the intense Colorado sun rapidly frees them to rustle across the landscape once again. Eventually, the armies settle down beneath the shrub lines and wood borders, providing fertilizer for next spring's growth.
It's a win-win situation. Entertainment and no work for me and natural nutrients for our trees and shrubs. The mounded leaves also offer winter protection for many invertebrates, at least until they are discovered by the birds, mice, raccoons and skunks that visit the farm.
