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eNEWSLETTERS

Helpful Tips for Fall Leave Clean Up

As the leaves fall, enjoy the beautiful change of scenery. No need to dread what is to come once all of the leaves have fallen. No, we aren’t talking about winter…yet! We are talking about fall leave clean up!

While this can be looked at as a dreadful task, as with everything in life, look for ways to make it enjoyable. Yes, it is possible! This article contains tips on how to get started, how to make fall leave clean up enjoyable, how to do it safely, and where to dispose of all the leaves once bagged.

First things first:

Don’t start raking just yet. Why waste your time and energy cleaning up leaves when you look up and your trees are still full of colorful ones that have yet to fall? As you continue mowing throughout the fall, you can most likely bag those leaves or mulch them down. Once you stop mowing for the season, when your grass stops growing, then get out there and rake those leaves!

Learn about your raking options;

Attach a bagging system to your lawn mower.
Use a hand held leaf blower/vacuum.
Plain and simple raking.

Some people think that they don’t need to rake leaves because they will just turn into compost naturally. While this is true, it is recommended that if you have a substantial amount of leaves on your lawn (enough to where you can’t see your lawn underneath) to remove them because they will most likely smother your grass and kill it long before it turns into fertilizer.

Make it fun:

Involve the family- no need to do this alone.
Divide into teams, time each team on who can rake and bag the leaves the fattest.
Play some upbeat music.

Rake It Safely

Provided by ProHealthCare.com;

Raking leaves is a good form of exercise, it is best you stretch and warm up for at least ten minutes prior to picking up your rake.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Use a rake that is comfortable for your height and strength.
Wear gloves to prevent blisters and/or cuts.
Dress properly- depending on the temperature, dress in layers.
Alternate your leg and arm positions often to prevent cramping.
When you bend over to pick up a pile of leaves, bend with your knees, not your back.
Piled leaves can be wet, wear shoes or boots with slip-resistant soles.
Don’t overstuff the bags; make sure you can pick them up comfortably.
To avoid stress on your back, don’t throw the leaves over your shoulder or too far to a certain side.

Dispose Your Leaves in an Environmentally Friendly Way

Once you have raked as many leaves as you can, you should then decide how you want to dispose of them. There are a few different options;

Compost your leaves in a specific area in your yard.
Place the leaves in “no-man’s land” between you and your neighbor’s house- the leaves will then have the opportunity to turn in to mulch. Win win for both of you!
Believe it or not you can place leaves on top of your garden area and it will create wonderful organic things for your soil for next year’s crops.
Send your leaves to a public facility, where they will compost them.

Looking for a local drop off site near Springfield, MO?

Visit http://tagsgf.com/2010/11/04/city-recycling-centers-switch-to-winter-hours/

Burning the leaves- to some this is considered a bad idea for the environment. Check with your local community fire station, as it is illegal to burn leaves in some areas.

Fall Clean Up Checklist

When the end of fall draws near, raking leaves is not the only task you should consider finishing before the grueling winter weather arrives. HomeDepot.com has provided a very helpful fall cleaning checklist to help guarantee you have secured everything for the winter months to come.

http://www.homedepotgardenclub.com/Dimensions/Article.aspx?contentid=2606

Sources:

http://gardening.about.com/od/toppicktools/a/LeafTools.htm

http://www.prohealthcare.org/wellness/health-news/health-tips/fall-cleanup-accidents.aspx

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=54998

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2377212/is_it_really_necessary_to_rake_leaves.html

http://buckeyegardening.com/1115dispoesfallleaves.html

Missouri