How do you remove leaves from the trees: Mulch or remove?
As the summer comes to an end, so does the growing season of the trees on our lawns also comes to an end. The start of autumn marks the end of summer for trees. Their leaves change color as they go into dormancy. After a while, they begin to build into our lawns and we're faced with the task of leaf removal in Lexington KY.
In the case of leaf removal, there are two options: either rake the leaves in your lawn and let them fall naturally into the soil , or pile them up for disposal. There's a third option for some that goes with the "piling" method of hauling leaves to the curb and let your municipal or city council pick them up. There are pros and cons for every method, and you'll have to determine which is the best option for your lawn.
Mulching
While this could be most straightforward of the two ways, it's not without its challenges. There will be a layer of grass clippings, which breaks down naturally in the soil after you mulch leaves with your mower. This can improve the soil quality and not have any adverse effect on the grass if you do it often. It is important to pay attention to the depth of the layer of chopped-up leaves and grass clippings. when this layer is too thick you are at risk of spreading fungal diseases on your lawn or blocking the vital sunlight. According to the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association you must keep your lawn below 1/4" to 3/8" of accumulation of leaves at any given moment. To avoid fungal disease or smothering your lawn, you can bagge and remove any leaves and grass debris. Mulching pine needles with a mulch is not a good idea. They won't absorb into the soil.
Although it is not required, Lawn Wox suggests using the lawnmowers lexington ky lawn mower with either a mulching system or replacement blades for mulching. These tools and blades are specifically designed to cut and continue cutting grass and leaf debris to make it fall down the lawn and be broken down naturally. Standard lawn mowers that come with standard blades won't cut grass or leaves in the same way, creating large clumps of grass that can choke areas of your lawn. You'll typically need to cut with repeated passes with the standard mower to cut leaves and grass in a way that is fine enough to ensure that your lawn is not damaged.
Mulching Benefits
This technique can cut down on the amount of effort needed to remove leaves from your lawn. This technique can enhance the soil's quality and is less costly than other power equipment. You won't have to spend as much time working on your lawn.
Mulching's disadvantages
If not handled properly, this technique can cause your grass to become smothered, especially in moist conditions. You might need to cut your grass more frequently depending on the size of your mower as well as the number of leaves that are falling. If the majority of the trees that surround you are pines, this technique will not be effective for you because pine needles won't break down in the soil as easily.
Removing
There are advantages to blowing or raking leaves into piles. This is especially the case for those who want to collect leaves for their compost piles, as well as for people who mulch, but who have difficulty keeping up with the quantity of leaves that fall into their lawns. When you can't see your grass is the time to get out the rake and leaf blower to fight back!
Leaf blowers make the process of removing leaves easy. Spread a tarp, or any other flat surface that you're not afraid to get filthy and start to blow the leaves over the tarp.
If there is a compost pile it is possible to use the leaves used to make compost for your garden. Composting depends on a mix of carbon-rich "brown" material as well as nitrogen-rich materials referred to as "green " or fresh materials. Your lawn can be a great source for both and you can also use the compost produced as a beneficial organic soil conditioner for your garden beds, or other parts in your lawn.
The Benefits of removing leaves
These leaves that have dried up are a great source of "brown" material for composting. It could give your lawn a neater appearance depending on the frequency with which you take out leaves. It may be more beneficial than mulching if you have many pine trees.
Disadvantages of Removing Leaves
Removal of leaves using either a rake or a leaf blower is more laborious and will require longer spending in your yard. This could be more expensive as you need to purchase bags to collect leaves and the fuel to run your leaf blower. Some cities don't permit leaf pickup while others don't permit you to throw away your leaves in the garbage.
Are you new to the area?
Discuss your neighbors with them and learn how they deal with the issues they face with their leaf cleanup. This is a sign that your community is undergoing an ongoing leaf collection. Many municipalities start sending out flyers and publishing information in local newspapers about two weeks prior to the first pick-up. You'll have to figure out the most effective method for removing leaves that works for your particular area, especially in case it's less urban. Trial and error is an excellent way to begin and why not try at both options and find out which is the best option for your lawn or use two methods depending on the time of year, weather and conditions in your region!
| Lawn Worx: What you need to know about trimming a tree in 2021! |
lawn service Georgetown
Georgetown landscaping company
lawn works Lexington ky
georgetown landscaping companies
Georgetown landscape
Lawn Worx
116 Valhalla Pl, Georgetown, KY 40324
859-285-0079