Leaf Removal Tips Do I need to Mulch or Remove?
As summer draws to an end, the growth season for the trees that surround our lawns also closes. When our trees begin to go into dormancy for the remainder of the year and their leaves begin to change colors and mark the beginning of fall. They grow quickly on our lawns and we need to take care of the chore of removing them..
There are two ways to think about it when considering leaf removal: mulch them in the lawn after mowing and they'll naturally break down into the soil . Or, you can pile the leaves and find a place to dispose of the pile. The other option is to haul them to your curb , and collect them by your municipality. There are pros and cons for every option, so you'll need to consider which is the best option for your lawn.
Mulching
This is the most straightforward of the two, but it's not without its difficulties. When mulching leaves with your mower, you're left with a layer of grass clippings, and leaves that naturally fall off into the soil. This will improve the soil quality and not have any adverse effects on the grass if done regularly. You must pay careful attention to the thickness of the layer of chopped up grass clippings and leaves; when this layer is too thick , you'll are at risk of spreading fungal diseases on your lawn or blocking the vital sunlight. According to the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association It is best to keep at least 1/4" - 3/8" of accumulation of leaves on your lawn at moment. If this layer is thicker than that , think about removing and bagging the leaf and grass debris to avoid potential fungal disease or the lawn being smothered. Mulching with pine needles not a good idea. They won't absorb into the soil.
It's not required, but Lawn Worx advises the use of the lawn mower lexington KY, equipped with either mulching equipment or a mower with recycled mulching blades. These blades and kits have been designed to cut through grass and other leaf debris and let it fall into the lawn. Standard blades on lawn mowers won't cut grass or leaves too, which can create clumps in your lawn. The typical cut is using multiple passes on the same mower in order to cut the leaves and grass with enough precision so that they don't harm your lawn.
Mulching Benefits
This method will reduce the amount of effort needed to remove leaves off your lawn. It can improve the health of your soil, as in addition to being less costly in the sense that you'll not be paying for additional fuel for any other equipment and don't have to spend as much time performing gardening.
Mulching Disadvantages
If not handled properly this method can cause your grass to be smothered, especially in moist conditions. You might need to cut your grass more frequently depending on the size of the mower and how many leaves are falling. If the majority of trees around you are pines, this technique won't work for you as pine needles don't decompose into the soil as quickly.
Removing
There are many benefits to blowing or making piles of leaves. This is especially true for those who wish to collect leaves for their compost piles, as well as for those who mulch but are having difficulty keeping up with the volume of leaves that fall into their yard. If you don't see your grass It's time to take out your rake or leaf blower and take on the enemy!
Leaf blowers make the process of removing leaves easy. Spread the tarp or any other flexible flat surface that you don't dislike getting dirty and begin blowing the leaves in heaps onto the tarp.
If you have an existing compost pile, leaves that have been collected are an excellent source of the "brown" material required for composting in the backyard. Composting depends on a mix of carbon-rich or "brown" material as well as nitrogen-rich substances referred to as "green " or fresh materials. The lawn could provide both, and the compost may be utilized as an organic soil additive to your plants, or for other lawns.
The Benefits of Removing Leaves
The leaves can be used to create compost. Based on how often you remove leaves from your lawn, they can give a "cleaner" appearance. If you have a lot of pine trees around your property, this could be a efficient option than mulch.
The drawbacks of removing Leaves
The labor involved in removing leaves with a leaf blower or rake is more difficult and takes longer. This can make it costlier as you have to buy bags for leaf collection and fuel for your leaf blower. Some areas don't offer leaf pick-up, while some permit you to throw away your leaves in the landfill.
New to the site?
Talk to your neighbors and learn how they deal with their issues with leaf removal. If most of your neighbors are pushing their leaves to the curb, it's a good sign that your municipality offers a regular leaf collection available. Most start by distributing flyers and publishing information in local newspapers just a few weeks prior to the first pick-up. If your location is more rural and does not offer leaf removal, you'll need to find the most effective solution for cleaning up your lawn. Trial and error is an excellent way to begin. Why not try at both options and find out the one that works best for your lawn. You could also try a combination of both methods according to the time of year, weather and conditions in your area!
lawn care Nicholasville ky
lawn mowing service Lexington ky
tree services Frankfort, ky
mulch delivery Lexington, ky
mulch Georgetown, ky
Georgetown arborist
Lawn Worx
116 Valhalla Pl, Georgetown, KY 40324
859-285-0079