Leaves across the country are beginning to fall along with ![\"fall3\"](\"http:\/\/mymontys.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/fall3-300x206.jpg\" "\\"fall3\\"")
the temperatures.\u00a0And the thought of falling leaves, leaves many of us with questions about what to do with them.\u00a0 At the end of the day, you have four basic options:\u00a0 Leave them alone, Mulch them (run over them with a mower or shredder), Compost them, or Rake and Remove.<\/p>\n
Rake and Remove<\/strong>– This option is very labor intensive but provides the over-all cleanest results.\u00a0 It is becoming harder to do because of landfill restrictions on yard waste and it\u00a0is not the most environmentally friendly option.\u00a0 It does have some benefits, though, as it removes all litter and debris and makes it harder for insects and bacteria to overwinter.<\/p>\n Mulching<\/strong>– This is the option preferred 2:1 by husbands who would rather spend their Saturday’s watching SEC football (okay, so I am biased) than doing yard work.\u00a0 It is quick and easy.\u00a0 Fire up the lawn mower, set the setting to high, and proceed.\u00a0 In a relatively short amount of time, the lawn is cleared of visible leaves and you can get on with your plans.\u00a0 A slightly more elaborate version involves actually using the bag attachment to catch the pulverized leaves then piling them around your\u00a0perennials, trees, shrubs, or dumping them into your garden to be incorporated later.\u00a0<\/p>\n This option is okay if you pay attention to a few biological realities.\u00a0<\/p>\n The good news is these situations can be remedied with a little time and expense.\u00a0 Make sure you apply a good quality fertilizer like a 10-10-10 granular or, for added convenience, use Monty’s 4-15-12<\/a> and lightly spray the lawn\/mulch mixture after mulching the leaves.<\/p>\n To boost the microbial population in the soil we recomend using Monty’s Calcium Plus or Monty’s Liquid Carbon<\/a> (where available).\u00a0 Simply spray the surface of your soil before soil temperatures fall below 45 degrees F (below that temperature, microbes are hibernating and no additive will increase the reproduction of sleeping organisms).<\/p>\n Leave them alone<\/strong>– Growing up reading “Walden,”<\/a>\u00a0this option appeals the most to me.\u00a0 After all, no one is there to pick up after the trees in the wild.\u00a0 These leaves just become part of the natural order of things.\u00a0\u00a0 However, we do not live in the wild and our neighbors tend to frown on this attitude.\u00a0 Beyond that, there are some other considerations.\u00a0 In the wild, trees are in the forest, grasses are in the meadows or grasslands.\u00a0 The two environments rarely mix.\u00a0 Because the dense shadows, wet heavy leaves, and acidic conditions brought on by the carpet of leaves is not very conducive to growing grasses.\u00a0 However, if you are bent on leaving the leaves where they fall, or where they blow, take the actions listed above.\u00a0 Provide enough nitrogen so that the soil will not cannibalize your plants and make sure you have the needed organic matter in the soil by soil testing for OM and enhance the microbial population when you can.\u00a0 Bear in mind that even with the precautions you can still smother your grasses and leaves ideal locations for weeds next spring.<\/p>\n Compost<\/strong>– All the labor intensiveness of raking with the added fun of having\u00a0to go out and turn the, how shall\u00a0I say this politely…”earthy-smelling” pile of decaying leaves.\u00a0 However, on the plus side of\u00a0the ledger it will give you a good source of soil for your raised beds next season or fertilizer to mix in with your gardens, lawns and flower beds.\u00a0 You still will have the problems noted previously about needing microbes to break down the debris and needing to add a bit of nitrogen to the mix for optimal results.\u00a0 the easiest way to do this is to lightly spray the surface of the compost pile with Monty’s Liquid Carbon each time you go out to turn your compost bin.\u00a0 Directions for building a compost bin can be found here<\/a>, or you can purchase one of the newer fangled ones here<\/a>.\u00a0 Our friends at Naturally Horton’s <\/a>can also be a good source of advice or materials<\/a>.<\/p>\n So, as fall starts to fall, chose the method that is best for you and be prepared to address the needs that each method brings.\u00a0 Till then, keep working in the yard and garden and keep sending us your pictures and feed back.<\/p>\n Leaves across the country are beginning to fall along with the temperatures.\u00a0And the thought of falling leaves, leaves many of us with questions about what to do with them.\u00a0 At the end of the day, you have four basic options:\u00a0 Leave them alone, Mulch them (run over them with a mower or shredder), Compost them, […]<\/p>\n\n
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