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 The drought has played a big part in those missing
colors. There is some color to be sure, and maybe we will get some
of that intensity we want, but I would not count on it given we are
well into October. If we get a killing frost, any color stops there.
Colorful fall foliage or not, once the leaves come down in
abundance, what to do with them will be the challenge.
Natural woodland areas
If you are out there in the country with natural woodlands, leaves
play a part in preserving the natural habitat of native trees,
shrubs, and flowers. If that is the case, just let those leaves lie.
The leaves will decompose and return valuable nutrients to the soil
to be used by the soil microbes that in turn support plant growth.
Lawn and tree areas
Where your lawn and trees exist together, mulching in the leaves
with a mower lets the small pieces fall between grass blades,
benefiting the soil, trees, and lawn. At some point there can be
more leaves than can be mulched in. This is the time then to mow and
bag the leaves, so as to not smother the lawn. (More on those leaves
and grass clippings you bagged in a minute.)
Vegetable garden
Where the vegetable garden is adjacent to the lawn, consider either
mowing or blowing the leaves in to the beds to be worked in either
yet this fall or left as a mulch layer for the soil and worked into
the soil next spring.
Compost piles or bins
Now back to the leaves you have collected with the lawn mower.
Consider using them to start a compost pile or build upon the one
you already have. That bag contains the two primary ingredients,
browns and greens. [to top of second
column] |
When considering where to place the compost pile or
bins, think about the shady areas in the yard where the grass does
not do well anyway. The traditional compost pile will need to be 4-
to 5-feet square at the base to be large enough to support
composting with a height of about 4 feet. If composting needs to
look a bit neater, then you can build or buy composting bins.
Compost recipe
In addition to the browns and greens, like those grass clippings and
leaves in your mower bag this fall, there are other ingredients for
good compost.
As you create the compost pile or fill the bin, some garden soil
should be sprinkled in as you go to provide the pile with the
microbes that will be breaking down the organic matter into compost.
Since organic matter is naturally acidic, about a half-pound of a
finely ground limestone should be added for every cubic yard of
material; this also could be sprinkled in as you build up the
compost pile/bin. Your compost recipe is almost complete. Once the
composting pile has been created, the final ingredient needed is
water. If the pile remains too dry, no breakdown occurs. If left too
wet, an anaerobic condition and decay occur, giving you a very
smelly, and potentially a slimy mess to deal with.
Fresh kitchen produce peelings can be added into the compost pile or
bin year-round. They provide some of the moisture that is needed
during the summer and after they have frozen and thawed from the
winter months, provide moisture again.
If you are lacking in the fallen leaves department, just ask the
neighbors who have bags sitting out at the curb. Don’t let that good
organic matter get away, compost it instead.
[SOURCE: Richard Hentschel, University
of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator] |
