Brace yourself for the chilly weather, pumpkin spice lattes, hayrides, mums, and flannel… Fall is officially here! Fall is a great time to do lawn maintenance, plant a tree, and wrap up your gardening projects for the year. The City will provide leaf collection services, more information on the program is available by clicking here.
Did you know that leaves can pose a problem for storm drains? They can clog up the storm drain and prevent proper drainage. Nobody wants to deal with a backed-up storm drain during a big rainstorm. Plus, the leaves will break down eventually and release nutrients into our waterways. Nutrients are great for your lawn and garden, but nutrients can be problematic for waterways and water quality. Too many nutrients in waterways can lead to algal blooms and other problems. Gross. Let’s not “clutter the gutter.”
“Leaf” the Leaves – One option is to “leaf” the leaves on your lawn! Leaves provide a habitat for many beneficial insects in the fall. By leaving it on the lawn, you are leaving habitat for insects AND adding nutrients back into your lawn – which helps improve plant growth for your turfgrass or gardens. You can mulch them into smaller pieces so they will break down faster. Leaving them on the lawn will not kill your grass.
Composting – Another option is to compost the leaves. Leaves make a great “brown” for your compost. They are full of nutrients and help make great compost that you can then use with your plants. We like to call compost “garden gold.” By composting your leaves, you are reducing your waste and saving money by not having to buy compost or garden soil.
The Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District has more information and environmentally friendly tips for maintaining your yard and garden. Visit them by clicking here.
Original source can be found here.
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