October caramelizes the landscape with deeply saturated tones and sweet, mellow flair. The static display of Summer foliage turns dynamic, each species unique in color, smoldering in the brisk, cool air.
In addition to vivid displays, trees drop their leaves in an effort to conserve energy and nutrition for the Winter ahead.
Leaf drop also means raking, but is there something more useful and noble we could be doing with all these leaves than simply raking, bagging and dumping? Heaven knows this requires a good deal of effort and even greater amount of patience. I’m not suggesting you simply let the leaves lie. This could be detrimental to your lawn, but there are some pragmatic approaches worth trying.
Composting leaves is always an excellent option. Granted, you’ll still have to rake them, but you’ll be able to recycle, and your soil will benefit from all the organic matter. Don’t have a compost bin? No need to despair. Leaves can be stored in garbage bags that have small holes punctured throughout or some municipalities offer recycling centers where leaves are composted on site and used throughout the community.
Mulching is yet another valuable option. Leaves can be shredded and added to beds where they act as insulators while naturally fertilizing the soil as they begin to break down.
Whatever you decide, the majority of leaves, and other seasonal debris, like acorns, will need to be raked and removed, but you might consider composting or mulching as viable options. In the meantime, if you haven’t done so already, contact Sweeney’s today to schedule your Fall Clean Up. Schedules are filling up fast and leaves are dropping faster! We proudly serve the communities of Villa Park, Elmhurst, Oakbrook, Oakbrook Terrace, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Wood Dale, Itasca, and more!
Sweeney’s: A Plant Based Company
Plant of the Week
Fire Chief™ Arborvitae
Globe shaped evergreen with dense sprays of feathery goldish-green foliage with tinges of red, orange and yellow. Prefers sun to partial sun and moist, well-drained soil. Grows 3-4′ tall and 3-4′ wide. Excellent year-round color and texture.
“October is the month for painted leaves…. As fruits and leaves and the day itself acquire a bright tint just before they fall, so the year near its setting. October is its sunset sky; November the later twilight.”
~Henry David Thoreau
Best wishes,
Kim Sweeney
Helpful tip; If you blow the leaves from surrounding beds and non-lawn areas into your lawn, you can grind them up while you mow. Run the mower over all of the area(s) without the bag, then go back over it and collect the leaves and clippings. This process will incorporate some green elements to the brown/dry leaves which will end in a more balanced/nutritious compost. By passing over twice you are chopping up the debris into smaller bits which will break down more evenly. If you have an area of the yard that is a little out of the way, (behind the garage, etc.). You can pile the mulch and grass clippings there and allow them to breakdown over the Winter. This will ultimately become a very useful garden organic and eco friendly compost, ready for the Spring. Seriously, why pay to haul leaves away in the Fall and then pay again to get compost/mulch in the Spring?