Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Autumn’s beautiful array of oranges, reds, yellows have given way to bare branches and tree limbs. Now that most of the leaves have fallen off the trees, it’s time to decide what you’re going to do with them. Here are a few things you can do now to insure you keep your lawn healthy through the coming winter months.
1. Get your leaves off the lawn. Even a light layer of leaves will compact under winter snows, depriving lawn grasses of light and air and encouraging the growth of snow mold and other turf diseases. You can use them now for mulch, add them to your compost or stockpile them for future use.
2. Make sure you clear all the leaves off your driveway and sidewalks. Leaves create slippery conditions for drivers and bike riders when it rains. Mounds of leaves can also clog local storm drains, creating dangerous high water conditions on roadways during a heavy downpour.
3. If you decide to use leaves for mulch, use your lawn mower to chop them into fine pieces and add them to your compost pile or flower beds. Leaves are nutrient-rich, which are perfect around newly installed plants to maintain soil warmth and permit better root growth. Spread leaves across bare soil areas to prevent erosion or apply them to established gardens after the ground has frozen to prevent frost heave and premature soil warming in early spring.
4. Participate in your local communities’ leaf service. Many cities offer a short-term service of delivering your leaves to a specific site at no charge. The site will compost the leaves for municipal use or sale to residents. This may be your best bet to keep your fall cleanup ecofriendly if the amount of leaves on your property overwhelms your ability to use them in your own landscape. Some cities offer a pick-up service, while others have a drop-off location. For information on this service in your community, visit the local government website for Lexington, Louisville, and Knoxville.
5. Use the leaves in your holiday decorations. Decorate your home with the Fall foliage by adding whole leaves to your table decorations or wall art.