Tips for Fall: Leaves!
Fall is just starting, and with so many jobs, projects to finish, and events to plan, we here at Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning want to help. So we’re going to share with you a few guides with helpful tips and tricks, and we’re going to start with leaves, specifically, what to do with them? Here are three great ways to get rid of that pile of leaves in your yard.
1. Community Pick Up/Drop Off:
Some communities have a fall leaf pickup service, and if you’re lucky enough to live in one of those towns, problem solved. Unfortunately, that service isn’t available everywhere, but don’t give up. Call your community center and ask if they have a community compost pile or a community garden in need of mulch. You can also call local gardening stores or nurseries to see if they need leaves for composting or mulching purposes.
2. Mulching
Here’s a tip you’ll probably like – don’t rake up your leaves. Instead, simply mow your lawn and the fallen leaves together. This will break up the leaves and work them into the grass, allowing them to rapidly decompose and enrich your soil. There are, though, a few things you should know:
A. Multi-Mowing: You may have to make several passes to ensure that the leaves are nicely broken up.
B. Too Much Mulch: Too many leaves can make mulching difficult, as both the mower and lawn can’t handle them all. If your yard is utterly inundated with leaves, you’ll need to do some raking before you mulch.
C. Lawn Hog: Don’t let the grass get all the leaves. Use the mulched leaves in flower beds and gardens to both cover the soil for winter and to add rich nutrients.
3. Composting
One of the greenest things you can do with your leaves is compost them – and as a green carpet cleaner, we love green! There are two “types” of composting: passive and managed. In passive composting, you make a pile of materials and let it decompose; in managed composting, you have to balance the types of materials, aerate the soil, and perform other tasks. Passive composting can take about a year before you see usable compost; managed composting can give you soil in 3 to 4 weeks. To learn more about the details of each method, go to Howtocompost.org and CompostGuide.com. Those excellent sites can answer your questions on the details of composting better than we can.
Of course, leaves are only one of Fall’s challenges. Look for our next Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning post for more great Fall tips!
Thanks to Howtocompost.org, compostguide.com, and lovingnaturesgarden.com for the ideas and tips.