Why You Shouldn’t Rake Leaves Just Yet in New York

The weather so far this year has been interesting, to say the least. The hot, humid summer wasn't pleasant and according to weather folklore, our first snowfall in New York should be just a week away.

Fortunately, if you look ahead at the forecast from NOAA, we seem to be in the clear when it comes to getting snow in October in the Hudson Valley. It has officially snowed at Whiteface already but honestly, I think it snows there all year.

See Also: Does September Weather Predict Winter

Why You Shouldn't Rake Your Leaves to Soon in New York

You may be looking around your yard right now and trying to figure out when you are going to get to mulch all those leaves. It is a ritual of Fall. I miss being a kid and rolling around in the big piles. As an adult, my allergies and fear of ticks no longer allow me the privilege of the joyous childhood fall activity.

The fact is you can probably hold off until the beginning of November before you rake the yard. Whatever you do while you are out there cleaning up, please make sure you aren't ripping up any of the fall flowers. Believe it or not, they are as important as the ones we see in the Spring.

SEE Also: Why Lilacs Bloom in the Fall

So the Fall flowers aren't always as pretty as what we see in our gardens in the Spring but they are important nonetheless. The Trailside Museums and Zoo at Bear Mountain State Park recently shared pictures of its fall blooms and explained how it helps the pollinator population prepare for the cold weather ahead.

Everything from Monarch Butterflies to the common honey bee is counting on those last flowers before winter sets in. So when you are scooping up all those leaves try to leave the last of the flowers alone for the insects to enjoy before the frost chases them out of town or underground.

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