These blustery Georgia days are truly wreaking havoc on the beautiful fall colored leaves in the trees. And no doubt you have mountains of leaves in your yard. Which leads us to the question of, what should you do with those leaves. We found a great list of suggestions at HGTV and wanted to share them with you all!
Rake Those Fall Leaves Up
“Raking is probably the most back-breaking approach to leaf removal. It works best in small yards or planting beds. If raking is your method of choice, check out rakes that are lightweight and designed to limit back fatigue. Select a wide rake-head for lawn areas and small rakes for planting beds and reaching under shrubs. To haul leaves away, consider a bendable tarp, pop-up leaf hauling containers, or handheld leaf claws.
The only time you don’t want to rake leaves is if they’re wet and matted. Try to time raking so leaves are dry. If it’s winter and the ground is frozen, it’s better to use a leaf blower and stay off the grass as much as possible. Walking on frozen grass crowns can damage them, which in turn can lead to brown spots after soil thaws in spring.”
“Convert leaves into organic matter for your garden by composting them. Organic matter is the silver bullet for building healthy garden soil that grows gorgeous, productive plants. It helps with soil aeration, moisture retention and even disease fighting.
When making compost, leaves break down at different rates depending on how thick they are. Thick oak or magnolia leaves may take up to two years to break down completely, while thinner leaves like birch or dogwood can rot over winter. To speed up the process, chop leaves before adding them to your compost pile. Chopping leaves also prevents them from matting together to form a waterproof surface, a common problem with maple, sycamore, tulip poplar and other large leaves.
The easiest and fastest way to chop a lawn full of leaves is by mowing them. Use your mower’s grass catcher to bag the chopped leaves, emptying it into your compost bin. For smaller areas, a leaf vac works well. Chopping leaves is dusty business. Wear a dust mask and eye protection, especially if you have allergies.”
Use Fall Leaves For Mulch
“Leaves make a terrific DIY mulch that’s free, and it’s probably the fastest, easiest way to use leaves. If leaves are small, rake them directly onto planting beds. For large leaves, it’s a good idea to chop them before using them as mulch. Like any mulch, you don’t want to pile leaves directly against shrub or tree trunks. Instead arrange them around stems like a donut, leaving some space around stems for airflow.”Don’t have the time to take care of the leaves in your yard? Call the experts at Stone Creek Landscaping. We are your complete landscape solution regardless of your property’s current condition. Whether you’re looking for maintenance, design and install, or just a splash of seasonal color, our skilled and professional crews are here to help.
