What are you doing with your yardful of leaves this fall?
Consider a few river-friendly alternatives.
Leave it!
Mulch your leaves by running over them with your lawn mower at next cutting. Leaves and grass clippings are the best fertilizer for your lawn.
The City of Ann Arbor is presenting a leaf mulching demonstration and mulching mower give-away on Sunday, Oct. 10, 1-2:30 p.m. at Wheeler Park.
Carpenter Bros. Hardware & Rental staff will demonstrate several ways to manage fall leaves including using mulching mowers and other types of rental yard equipment. At 2 p.m. a new Lawn boy mulching mower made by Toro will be given away as a door prize. Cider, donuts, and a youth activity will be provided. Event information is posted online at www.a2gov.org/leaves.
Rake it!
Follow the guidelines in your community for curb-side pick-up. Ann Arbor is transitioning this year from two street leaf pickups to weekly curbside collection through the compostables program. In other communities, if you’re asked to put leaves in the street, wait until just before collection day. Never rake them into or near storm drains, ditches, creeks or the river. Decaying leaves use up the water’s oxygen, harming aquatic inhabitants.
Or?… rake it and leave it!
Rake leaves into a compost pile for a nutrient-rich fertilizer to use on your garden next spring.
Get more tips on river-friendly lawn care, here.