As the fall season continues to march towards winter, Minnesotan trees are quickly losing their vibrant colors in favor of stark, bare branches. Soon these branches will be adorned with frost and snow, but for a little while, they will have to cope with being a bit under dressed. Lawn owners in densely tree populated areas such as Rochester and Winona probably have a veritable quilt of leaves blanketing their yard. Fall lawn care professionals, like those employed at Maier Tree and Lawn, can tell you that it's not always a good idea to leave those leaves untouched until the snow comes. That can lead to mold and other turf health issues, but then, where are all of the leaves supposed to go?
Luckily, there are several options for efficient (and environmentally friendly) leaf disposal!
The first option, which is a true classic, involves simply raking the leaves into a bag and bringing them to your local leaf disposal site! If you live in Winona, you can find more information here on how and where to dispose of your leaves. Rochester residents can visit this page for details as well. The nice thing about this fall lawn care tradition is that once you drop them off, you're done for the season. It's easy, quick, and you can trust your local composting site to deal with the waste properly.
Another fairly “hands-off” technique, leaf blowing, works best if you live somewhere near a wooded area. This technique requires simply using a standard leaf blower to re-locate the leaves to a forest or nature preserve. Dying leaves are an important part of the decomposition process, which can be fantastic for forests, but not-so-fantastic for a well-maintained lawn. Some amount of dead leaves can be used for a fall fertilizer, but too much of a good thing can still lead to rot!
Speaking of that fall fertilizer, the third option for your leafy-lawn includes two variations on the same idea; composting and mulching. If you are already a composter, then some leaves can be a great addition to your compost collection! They are full of nutrients and break down easily in a fall composting environment. In a similar vein, mowing or chopping up your excess leaves can be an easy way to give your lawn some nutrients without smothering it! The only caveat is that if you've never done much fertilizing on your own, it would be wise to consult a Maier Tree and Lawn professional first. The timing, amount, and type of fall fertilizer that will work best for your lawn may vary based upon different factors. Plus, even if the leaves seem infinite, you still want to get the best bang for your buck when it comes to end of season lawn care!
Finally, please remember that burning your leaves shouldn't be your first choice. Not only do you need a permit, but working with fire can be dangerous and hazardous to your health or to the health of those around you. There are many other ways to dispose of leaves that don't require an open flame!
Winter is creeping ever closer, so it's the perfect time to decide what to do with your leafy lawn. If you have any questions about fall fertilizer or fall lawn care, please contact Maier Tree and Lawn at 507.286.8733 (Rochester) or 507.454.7000 (Winona.) The big freeze is just around the corner, so be sure to get your lawn spruced up before it strikes!
