Rake it or leave it?

To rake or not to rake? The debate about what to do with those leavesbuilding up on your lawn erupts anew each fall, with lawncare enthusiasts and environmentalists alike weighing in on the pros and cons of each.

While there are ecological benefits to letting your lawn go natural, such as limiting greenhouse gas emissions from landfills and fertilizing soil, there is one major drawback for those not so fond of creepy crawlies – what’s hiding in those piles.

Still deciding if it’s better to leave your lawn or commit to total leaf destruction? Here’s what to know about some of the things that can be hanging out in that pile.

Beetles, spiders and centipedes, oh my

The mounds of fallen leaves on your lawn can provide the perfect cover for creepy crawlies if they are left to pile high enough. Many of these insects are seeking the best digs in preparation for the winter, and the dark, damp, warm and food-rich heaps are the perfect spot for plenty of different species.

Some of the most common include ants, beetles, centipedes, millipedes, pillbugs, earwigs, spiders and ticks. While some are harmless or even helpful besides being creepy, like centipedes, there are some you’d rather avoid, such as disease-carrying ticks.

That said, leaving a light smattering of leaves on your lawn can help maintain an environment that enables important cycles in our ecosystem, according to National Geographic.

Other wildlife like rodents and snakes

A few other types of wildlife generally considered undesirable are prone to hanging out in your leaves. This can include snakes, salamanders, box turtles, toads and rodents.

Attracted again by the shelter and warmth piles provide but also to the potential food source of the smaller creatures living inside, these creatures may not be the average homeowner’s favorite to have around but can, again, serve important roles in maintaining the local ecosystem.

If you can, leaving some leaves for some of these species like the box turtle and salamanders is beneficial. However, no one wants rodents prone to carrying disease slipping into their homes, so if you do choose to go light on the raking, consider making sure any piles or thicker coverings are farther away from your house.