Should you rake your leaves or mow them with your lawn this fall?

It's that time of the year again.

The air has already started to turn crisp, and before we know it those brightly colored leaves will begin to fall and blanket yards across North Jersey. And while many people may pride themselves on keeping their yards looking pristine, you may want to think twice before bagging and clearing away that crunchy fall foliage.

In an initiative aptly referred to as "Leave the Leaves," many people are encouraging homeowners to leave their fallen leaves alone — rather than raking them up and disposing of them — because of the natural benefits they provide to our ecosystem and wildlife.

The National Wildlife Federation has even deemed October National Leave the Leaves Month . And last year, the organization surveyed nearly 1,200 individuals about what they do