If you hate having to rake up all the fallen leaves on your property each autumn, here’s some great news. According to experts, unless done properly, cleaning them up can cause damage to the environment.

The Environmental Protection Agency notes that leaves make up over 13 percent of all solid waste in the US, generating methane gas at the dump as they decompose. Burning them is a no-no for obvious reasons, but so is breaking out a leaf blower, which not only uses fuel, but can remove the top layer of soil affecting garden biospheres.

American Horticultural Society director of communications David Ellis says if there are large leaves, like those from sycamores and some oaks, those should be mulched as they won’t break down otherwise over the winter.