Tip of the week: Leave your leaves alone

Forget the dreaded feeling of dragging out the rake and trash bags to clock in some hours to get rid of those crunchy fallen leaves. What if we told you that the leaves will improve your landscape? With a mower, you can mulch the leaves into your lawn instead of letting them sit on the curb waiting for the trash man. Mulched leaves will bio-degrade, providing nutrients to the grass roots, micro-organisms and worms in your landscape. They also help regulate  soil temperature when it gets cold, retain moisture in soil on dry days, and can reduce weed propagation next year.

As great as this is, you will still have to do a little bit of work to mulch the leaves. If you have flower beds or other non-turf areas, you will have to break out the rake or use a blower to move leaves onto the grass. Then, rev that mowers engine and mow your lawn without its grass catcher.* The goal is to break down the leaves so that they can decompose quickly and not suffocate your lawn. Once finished, leave your mulched leaves and lawn clippings in the lawn.

*Tip: Wait until the leaves are dry. Mulching or mowing wet leaves will only leave you with a clogged mower.

If you have big piles of mulched leaves left behind, you can use that extra mulch in your vegetable garden, flower beds or around your trees and shrubs.