Landscaping

Want to spruce up your landscape with a soil cover but not sure what to choose? Here is a list of mulch benefits that are bound to make your decision a little easier.

1. Retains Moisture

Mulch retains moisture within soil which means less watering for you, and overall healthier plants.

2. Moderates Temperature

Mulch keeps soil cool in the summer and warm in the winter so you know your plants are comfortable year-round.

3. Decomposes Nutrients

Mulch is completely natural, which means it decomposes nutrients over time and is not harmful to the planet.

4. Erosion Prevention

Mulch allows for an even landscape, which means even water settling and healthier soil.

5. Discourage Weeds

Mulch prevents weeds from emerging so your landscape will be better looking and easier to maintain.

6. Easy to Handle

Mulch is extremely easy to work with because it is lightweight and surface-level.

7. Protection

Mulch protects plants from extreme weather and lawn care tools such as mowers.

8. Completed Landscape

Without mulch, landscapes often look bare and unfinished. Mulch allows for an addition of color and is a very simple enhancement.

Fall is here and so are the leaves! They’re in the gutters, on the porch, in the yard, and even in your landscaping rock. The best thing to rid those leaves this fall is to use a leaf blower. If you have never used a leaf blower before or just want to be more effective this season, follow these great leaf-blowing tips and tricks: 

Safety first! Use eye wear, work gloves, sturdy shoes, ear protection, protective clothing, and make sure to keep hair up and out of the way when blowing leaves. Never let children use the leaf blower and never point a leaf blower at people or pets.

Wind can help and hurt you. Blowing your leaves with the wind is much easier than against. Consider the direction of the wind before you start blowing your leaves.

Think of an appropriate time of day. Leaf blowers are loud machines and can disturb your neighbors if you are blowing leaves too early or too late. Between the hours of 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. is a good rule to follow.

Make sure the leaves are dry. Wet leaves are too heavy and will stick to the ground when using a leaf blower. Wait for a dry day in order to utilize your leaf blower.

Have a plan. Before you begin, put down a tarp to blow the leaves onto. This makes it easy to haul the leaves. If you are moving the leaves into a wooded or compost area, make it easier for yourself by blowing them into sections rather than trying to move it all from one end to another.

Pick a direction. Make sure you only blow your leaves in 1 direction so you don’t have to keep going back or blow leaves in an area you already completed.

Watch for dust and dirt! Raise the leaf blower and wet down dusty areas so dirt doesn’t come flying back at you. Don’t forget certain nozzle attachments can help reduce dust.

Follow up with a rake. Blowing the leaves is sometime not enough. Using a rake afterwards helps to get stragglers.

Save those leaves! Hold onto the leaves and compost them into your garden. Leaves are also great to use around trees, bushes, and perennials for protection during the winter.

Mulch is a great soil cover because it retains moisture, moderates temperature, discourages weeds, and enhances the appearance of any landscape. Mulch is also natural and decomposes, which makes frequent maintenance unnecessary. Mulch maintenance is simple; there are only three things you need to do to keep your mulch lasting longer and looking great! 

1. Rake & Turn

  Mulch that sits still for long periods of time is apt to grow mold beneath the top layer. To prevent this from happening, it is important to rake your mulch and turn it over occasionally. After a while, the top layer of mulch will become stiff because mulch naturally compacts into the soil. By raking and turning your mulch, you allow it to breath and allow water to reach the soil much easier.

2. Manage Weeds

  Eventually mulch will start to lose its life and weeds may begin to form. At this time, it becomes necessary to pull or spray for weeds. Once again, before spraying or after pulling, you should rake and turn your mulch to freshen it up.

3. Freshen Up Color

  After a while mulch will start to fade and decompose. It is a good idea to add a fresh layer of mulch every year and blend it with your existing mulch. Make sure you don’t just throw a new layer on top of the already compacted old layer.

Disposing of your leaves by burning or throwing in the garbage are considered inorganic and harmful to the environment. The less we burn and throw away, the greener our planet will be. It’s all about reducing and reusing! Check out these alternatives to getting rid of fall leaves along with some fun crafts and activities. 

Create a compost

Adding your leaves to a compost bin is a great way to turn them into helpful garden nutrients. Leaves will decompose slowly within a compost bin, but there are ways to speed up the process. For instance, it is best to only add dry leaves. For optimal decomposing speeds, first mow over your leaf pile with a mulching mower to shred them. 

Use as mulch

Cover your bare garden soil or cool season vegetables with leaves to protect them from harsh winter weather. Leaves use up nitrogen from your soil, which makes it important to add an organic source of nitrogen to your soil before adding them. For optimal winter soil protection in flower beds, add a layer of shredded leaves to your bare soil, then apply a layer of bark mulch. Make sure the total mulch depth is 4 inches or less.

Return leaves to the lawn

Mulched leaves are decomposed by earthworms and microorganisms. They turn the mulched leaves into plant usable organic matter. Besides, it's better to leave them on site than send them to a land fill.

Crafts

Fall leaves can make great art pieces and kid projects. Here is a list of ideas:

1. Framed Leaves: Choose your favorite leaves from your yard and place them between two pieces of glass in a frame. The glass will hold the leaves flat. This will not only preserve them, but it will also make great wall art for less. 

2. Leaf Wreath: Create a gorgeous fall wreath with leaves, pinecones, and fall flowers. It won’t last forever, but it will be the perfect door decoration for the season. Make it a family tradition to go on a nature walk, gather leaves and pinecones, and make a fall wreath with your findings. 

3. Leaf Monogram: If a wreath isn’t up your alley, you can purchase a wooden letter from a craft store and modge podge leaves onto the face of it. Hang this on your door for your own monogrammed home! 

4. Leaf Stamps: Find your favorite leaf shapes and place them under a heavy book until they are flat. Grab some paper, boxes, canvas, material, etc and paint. Make your leaves into stamps and let your kids make colorful fall art. This could be hung on your wall for the season or given as a gift. 

5. Leaf Decor: Modge Podge is becoming more and more popular. Modge Podging leaves to items such as vases, plates, canvas, candles, guards, pumpkins, jars, wood, or anything else you can think of can make great centerpieces and decorations. Another benefit to Modge Podging is that It will make your leaves last for a very long time. 

6. Leaf Science Projects:There are many science experiments out there involving fall leaves. Teach your children about photosynthesis or why leaves change color. Sometimes learning can be fun too!