Strawberry Farms

Fall lawn maintenance tips October 2003

What to do with all those leaves

Time to clean up leaves! It only seems like just yesterday the tree leaves were beginning to turn colors and the next thing I know, they have fallen and need to be cleaned up.

The old fashion method is to get out the rake, rake the leaves into piles and fight to make them fit into the paper yard waste bags with out ripping the bags. Some of you may be fortunate enough to have a blower or leaf shredder to speed up the process. At my house, I just turn the mulching mower loose on the leaves. By mulching the leaves back into the lawn I am returning valuable nutrients and organic matter back to the soil. Some times the lawn may look a little messy, but I am saving time, reducing waste and improving my lawn. I have never killed any grass by mulching leaves and I have been disposing of leaves this way for over 20 years. University research has shown that mulching tree leaves back into the lawn benefits the lawn grass and trees.

If you choose to rake your leaves, please do not rake them into the street. The city will not be around to pick up bulk leaves.

If you choose to bag your leaves just put them out with the regular yard waste for Rumpke to pick up.

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mliston@insight.rr.com