It may be difficult to think about autumn when many places are still experiencing record heat, but it's right around the corner. Fall usually brings relief from the summer heat, fresh apple cider, road side pumpkin stands, and the beautiful fall leaves that are pretty to look at until they fall in your yard. Instead of bagging or burning them this year, why not make them part of your organic fall lawn care?
Fall Lawn Care and Pesky Leaves
Not too many people enjoy spending autumn weekends raking a yard full of fallen leaves. But, the old adage states, if life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And, that certainly holds true when doing your fall lawn care and dealing with all those leaves.
Raking might become a little more bearable if you know you can use those leaves to improve your lawn and garden. Here are a few organic uses for your autumn leaves:
- Leaf mulch
- Leaf compost
- Lawn food
Using your leaves as mulch is as simple as spreading them around the bases of shrubs and trees and in flower gardens to provide winter protection, just as they do in the forest. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has some excellent suggestions for combining fallen leaves with other organic materials to create compost for future planting in your yard and garden.
The easiest leaf solution may be spreading them around your yard and mowing them into the ground with a mulching mower. The City of Madison, Wisconsin offers tips for doing this properly to supply plenty of good nutrients to your lawn.
Stop bagging leaves and go organic this year for your fall lawn care.
Jeffrey Anderson has a Degree in English from V.M.I. and served as an officer in the Marine Corps. He worked in Residential and Commercial construction management for 25 years before retiring to write full time.
