I've been on a similar program with my lawn maintenance. I always mulch especially in the Fall when the leaves are falling. I've read a good bit about this on other websites like Dirt Doctor. They were adamantly opposed to chemical fertilizers stating that they killed the helpful microbes in the soil. I'm assuming the same holds true here?

"The misery of being exploited by capitalists is nothing... compared to the misery of not being exploited at all."

Joan Robinson