Brisk, invigorating air, the crisp taste of newly-ripened fruit, and drifting leaves—that is fall. It is a time when outdoor work becomes a real pleasure. And well it is, for there is much to be done.
Raking up leaves is one of these chores, and it isn’t just a question of neatness. Wet leaves matting on the lawn smother the grass and cause it to rot, leaving ugly, bare patches. Rake up fallen leaves at least once a week.
If you don’t like raking, or your lawn is too large to do conveniently by hand, consider the quick, efficient mechanical sweepers. By actual test, a 28-inch hand-propelled sweeper will clear grass clippings or a normal weekly fall of dry leaves from a 4,000 square foot lawn in 20 minutes or less, a big saving in time.
And you don’t have to transfer sweepings into a wheelbarrow or cart to dispose of them. Just wheel the sweeper and it’s loaded right where you want to empty it.
There are both hand-operated models and large power-operated ones, ideal for really vast lawns and for gardeners who must avoid too much physical exertion. You can also get the kind that hooks onto the back of a riding mower or tractor.
Now that you have collected the leaves, what should you do with them? Burn them? Never! With soils crying for humus (not to mention the mineral content of the leaves), it is a hideous waste to let all that value run-up in smoke—wasteful and dangerous too, since the fire’s heat can permanently damage overhanging branches or nearby trees.
Leaves Make An Ideal Mulch
Leaves make an ideal mulch for rhododendrons, laurels, camellias, and other evergreens. Spread a 6″ to 8″ inch-deep layer around the plants, since the leaves will soon pack down. If they show signs of blowing away, give them a good wetting and a light sprinkling of soil, or place wire netting or sticks over them temporarily until they have settled into place.
Add such a layer of leaves every year and soon you will build up a good, cool, nourishing root run for these shallow-rooting evergreens.
Compost the leaves left over after mulching, along with any flower or vegetable garden waste free of disease and insects. In the large garden you can spread the leaves and waste 4” to 6” inches deep over the entire area, broadcast Cyanamid over them, and then work them into the soil 6” to 8” inches deep with a plow or tiller.
Or make a compost pile in some out-of-the-way corners. Lay the leaves and waste down in 4” to 6″ inch layers, add an inch or so of garden soil, then more leaves, etc., until the pile is 4′ to 5′ feet high. To speed up decomposition, you can also add an accelerator like blood meal on each layer of leaves.
Grinding Leaves
If you can shred or grind plant material in a mechanical shredder before adding it to the pile, you will greatly speed up its rate of decomposition. If some material doesn’t shred well when raw, wait until rotting has started before running it through the shredder.
This not only mixes up the compost but also makes it unnecessary for you to aerate the pile by turning it over with a shovel.
If you prefer, you can grind up the leaves right where they fall, provided they are not wet or too deep. For this, almost any good rotary mower will do, since most have mulching attachments available. Just run the mower back and forth through the leaves until they are fine enough to filter between the blades of grass.
44659 by Edwin F. Steffek