I haven't fertilized my lawn or raked leaves in years. I have a mulch mower so I mulch the grass clippings back onto the lawn during the summer months. I also don't mow the lawn really short either. In fall, I mulch leaves and clippings and put them on my perennial flower beds. I have the greenest lawn in our neighborhood and my flowerbeds thrive. Jeff's method works! 

For those with an HOA, maybe it's time to explore the possibility of mulching lawn clipping back into the lawns and mulching the leaves into the lawn for winter. Just a thought.