I raked grass clippings today and picked up most of it for the compost pile (40 minutes of activity). I'll get the pine needles tomorrow and use them for mulch around my various hydrangeas (they love the acid composition of the pine needles).

After that's done I'm finished until the leaves fall from our maple tree in the front yard. By then I hope the compost bin will be settled enough to take most of the leaves so it can all "brew" throughout the winter and springtime in time for mulching next summer.

BBS, our lawn is far from perfect. I was thinking we need to get a thatcher attachment for the mower or hire it to be done. I don't know if I could do it all with our rake. It needs to be thatched and then some organic "weed and feed" next spring.