Good news for lazy homeowners and even lazier teenagers all over: raking leaves is a bad idea.

Really. This isn’t some bogus theory concocted by someone desperate to get out the most mundane and time-consuming work this side of drying dishes and folding laundry.

The National Wildlife Federation says you should "Leave leaves on the ground — they have a lot of benefit to wildlife and your garden."

Yup, raking the leaves is akin to going into the kitchen at your favorite restaurant and  chucking all the food on the parking lot outside and then driving over it with your car. That's because "The leaf layer is its own mini ecosystem! Many wildlife species live in or rely on the leaf layer to find food."

In addition to grub, animals need the leaves to lay eggs. The foliage can also be vital for killing pesky weeds and fertilizing soil.

So, while you'll be dashing your little kids' dreams of fun by jumping in piles of leaves to create the perfect picture of autumn, know you're doing your part to keep the cycle of life moving along at a brisk pace. Now, go inside, whip up a cup of hot chocolate and brace yourself for a mind-numbing session of drying dishes and folding laundry.

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