Raking vs. Mulching

[Edwardsville,IL.PLS]

Which is better and why?Thanks:usflag:

[PSUturf]

Raking is the act of operating a rake as in 'rake the leaves'.
Mulching is to apply a stone or organic matter layer to a shrub bed or to cover a seed bed with organic material.

[Edwardsville,IL.PLS]

How about raking the leafs vs. mulching the leafs?

[PSUturf]

Sorry for the misunderstanding. Mulching is better as long as there aren't so many leaves that the grass is smothered. If the leaves are heavy enough that you don't see much green grass after mulching than it is probably time to pick them up (or some of them). In many cases it is faster than picking up the leaves, whether by raking or blowing into piles. Mulching wet leaves usually doesn't work very well.

Mulched leaves add organic matter and nutrients to the soil. The nutrients are released very slowly over time and will benefit the turf as well as trees which have roots near the surface.