This is a response to a column in the outdoor section of the Oct. 27 newspaper (“Ask Maine Audubon: ‘Doing less yardwork’ can have big impact on local biodiversity,”). The column recommended letting leaves remain on the lawn to nourish the grass and protect some lawn animals over the winter. My experience is that if you let the leaves lay on the grass over the winter, they may kill the grass. Which may be the intent of the author since he doesn’t seem to like grass lawns anyway, seeming to think that neatly mowed grass lawns are just a middle-class obsession.

What I have found is that mowing leaves with a mulching lawnmower is a great compromise. It makes the lawn look neat and clean and the mulched leaves provide great nutrients for the grass. And best of all, instead of having to rake or leaf blow and bag the leaves and dispose of them, you have a much easier job and you give all of their nutrients right back to the soil that produced the leaves.

And, finally, use an electric mower to reduce noise and pollution.

David Doreau

Waterville