Most of us enjoy the beauty of fall, with its warm, rich days that surround us in those glorious bursts of color. But after the last of the leaves have fluttered from the trees, autumn also presents us with that carpet of crumbling, brown and orange debris which must be dealt with before the first snows of winter descend. Instead of breaking your back raking leaves on a beautiful weekend afternoon, wouldn’t it be nice to have an alternative that would save you time? If you have a mulching mower, you have all you need. Just remove the bag and insert the mulching plug.
Mow it high; Let it fly. Your lawn mower has the capability to chop those leaves into tiny pieces, thereby causing them to decompose and breakdown at the mercy of insects and microbes. Recent research clearly indicates the benefits of mulching the leaves of deciduous trees into existing turf.
- Chopped leaves provide a beneficial “top dressing” of nutrients and organic matter which enriches the soil. It will improve the soil by enhancing the structure and nutrient properties of the soil
- Leaving leaves where they have fallen saves money. They don’t have to be transported off site.
- When cleaned up out of the street, they can be mulched into the turf instead of being washed down the storm drain, clogging the drain and adding to the nutrient problems of the local watershed
- Test results indicate leaf mulching provides a softer surface for people engaged in sports or physical activity
- Mulching the leaves into the turf requires much less work
- Mulching the leaves into the lawn is not without problems. The research indicates heavy leaves can result in visible leaf litter. Try to go back over visible leaves until they are gone. Clean it up as much as you feel the need to. Don’t leave large piles of leaves on the lawn. A few leaves left down will not kill the lawn, however, and will be incorporated as soon as the lawn begins to grow in the spring.
As you can see, there are a lot of benefits to leaving the leaves down and mulching them into the turf. It is a win, win, win, situation. It is a win for the environment, a win for your lawn, and a win for you.
Need assistance? Fill out our Free Estimate form and a representative will contact you to discuss your needs. Need Fast Service? Call our office at 301-870-3411 to learn more about lawn disease control and to purchase the fungicide program.