Leaves on the lawn aren't automatically bad — and they aren't automatically fine either. Here's how we think about it.
Mulch in light cover
If you can still see grass through the leaves, a mulching mower can chop them into the lawn. The shredded leaves feed the soil.
Remove heavier cover
Once leaves cover more than 50% of the lawn, mulching stops working and leaves smother turf. Remove them.
Don't wait until December
Wet leaves left on turf through November invite snow mold. Two or three timed visits beat one big late one.