By Pat Dray
The Garden Spot
Pat Dray.
There is always a controversy about “leaving the leaves” or raking them up. Like most stories, there are two sides.
It is true that a very heavy layer of leaves left on turf grass can cause problems such as snow mold, but it’s not necessary to have the leaf blower out on a daily basis. If you’re waiting to do the yard cleanup until all the leaves have dropped, just remember that certain trees such as oaks, sycamore and some beeches don’t drop their leaves until spring.
Leaves are organic matter and will decay over time, releasing nutrients back into the soil. When leaves break down, they store some of their carbon in the soil, allowing your yard to become a carbon sink and absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Rather than getting out the rake and leaf blower, the easiest way to manage leaves on turf areas is to mow them, which will reduce the time needed for them to decay into compost. If you have a mulching lawnmower, you can do this with a single pass; if not, just run over the leaves several time to cut them into small pieces. The leaves will not just nourish your lawn but help to increase biodiversity by leaving a place for insects and small animals to overwinter. In the spring when the birds begin to return, they’ll have an easy time finding plenty of food.
Leave the leaves on your garden beds and they’ll act as an additional layer of mulch, protecting your plants from freezing. If using the leaf blower is your hobby, blow the leaves off the turf and on to the beds. Anything that hasn’t decomposed by spring can be removed then or mulched over.
Whatever you decide, be careful not to blow leaves into the street where they can be a slipping hazard or into drains where they will impede street drainage.
I happen to like the winter interest of the tall, decorative grasses intact so won’t cut those back until spring. It is a good time to remove any spent annuals or diseased plants. But remember, anything diseased does not go in the compost pile. While you’re out working, it’s a good idea to give the compost pile a good turn over.
Depending on how deep a freeze there has been, it may also be time to dig up, divide and replant perennials. They’ll do much better in the spring if their roots aren’t crowded, resulting in larger blooms. You’ll also find discounted shrubs and trees at your local garden center, so it’s a good time to see what needs replacing.
Once your fall cleanup is finished, don’t forget to clean and sterilize any of your cutting tools and send the mower off for its annual tune-up and blade sharpening. Then you can sit back with a good seed and plant catalog and enjoy the winter.
Pat Dray is a past president of the Orange Garden Club.