Don't rake your leaves!

[Catherine]

It is that time of year when people obsess about getting all the leaves from their trees raked up.
Don't do it! Just leave them there on the ground. They break down naturally and provide fertilizer for the spring growing season. 
Also more importantly, you could be raking up caterpillars. Leave the leaves and let the caterpillars be.

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/do...50783.html


I sometimes collect bags of leaves from my neighbours to bury my roses. The leaves keep them warm for the winter and as they break down they put new life back into the soil. I don't even own a rake, but I do have beautiful roses.

This is one time when we can work with nature and it will be less work for us.