Leaves covering ground of arborvitae bushes

[Robertdevore1]

I live in Westchester, New York, USA. Last Fall instead of raking up a lot of tree leaves in the area, I figured I would push them under the arborvitae trees to protect them in the winter. It's now spring time and I realized the leaves did not decay. Should I rake the leaves off the ground under the arborvitaes, or would they still get the rain water they need with the leaves left alone?

[imafan26]

The leaves can be left as mulch as long as it is only 4 inches deep and you keep the leaves away from the tree trunks. The leaves will decay faster once the weather warms and the soil bacteria and fungi wake up from their winter nap.

Unless you get a lot of rain, I would water the trees so they get the equivalent of an inch of rain or water a week.