WMTW interviews Witt about raking versus keeping leaves on ground
WMTW (Channel 8 in Portland) spoke with Amy Witt, a horticulture professional with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, for a report on whether raking leaves is necessary. The National Wildlife Federation says leaves provide a natural habitat for some wildlife, according to the report. “Leaving the leaves on the ground does help put some nutrients back into the ground,” Witt said. “It does provide organic matter.” She added that whole leaves could cause some extra yard work. “(If) they build up to a quarter to half an inch, then that’s going to cause the grass to maybe die, and also maybe cause some diseases,” she said.