Is there a right and wrong way to rake the leaves out of the lawn and garden in fall?
Yes, if you want to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of your raking. There’s more to rake off the lawn in fall than just leaves and pine needles: there’s also thatch. Thatch is the layer of dead turfgrass tissue between the green vegetation and the soil surface that must be removed, or “dethatched,” to maintain lawn health. Consequently, there is a right and wrong way to rake your lawn in the fall: Right way: Raking deeply enough to remove thatch as well as fallen leaves. Wrong way: Simply skimming the fallen leaves off the surface, leaving thatch behind. While serious thatch problems cannot be resolved merely by raking, it certainly doesn’t hurt to try to stay ahead of thatch by raking deeply when you do rake.
