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An educational initiative to inform homeowners and landscapers about the many advantages of mulching leaves on site. We're Bedford-based, but our message is universal. Join us – and Leave Your Leaves Alone!
For new developments, tips and dialogue, find us on Facebook. www.facebook.com/leaveleavesalone
We're very proud to say that Leave Leaves Alone was the recipient of two awards in 2012. See stories about the Earth Day Award from Westchester County and a Green Award from Bedford's Conservation Board.
Leaf mulching demonstrations & consultations are available on request. email: leaveleavesalone@gmail.com
Testimonials from Homeowners and Landscapers
Who Mulch
What Landscapers Who Mulch Say:
"I've been mulching leaves for at least 20 years and the soil you create by doing this is unlike any other. Leaf mulch is more nutritional and safer for your property. Most commercial mulch is the by-product of dead trees - who knows what they died of? Leaf mulch comes directly from your property and does not contain any foreign elements." David Duarte, Five Brothers Landscaping
"I started mulching leaves last year (2010) and saved $400 a week in overtime, plus more than $1,000 a week in tipping fees. Mulching leaves on site is so much faster and more efficient. And it's good for the soil." Sean Ryan, Ryan & Ryan Landscaping.
"I have been mulching leaves for the past 3 years. What inspired me was the impact to the environment, the time savings and money savings that results from this method," Anthony Vulpone, Vulpone Landscaping & Lawn Maintenance.
We try to never remove leaves from clients' properties. I mulch 100% of the leaves on my properties, although 70% is acceptable, if you have tough conditions like steep slopes or rocks. The new equipment for landscapers really has made this possible. You can perform the same autumn cleaning in the same or less time as the regular weekly grass cutting time and that's it. You never touch those leaves again. Plus it leaves the leaves where they should be - providing nutrition to the soil," Aesthetic Landscape Care Inc., Tim Downey.
Tim explains this fully in a video with the village manager in Hastings-on-Hudson. (Start around 8:20 minutes)
For more landscaper testimonials and special tips for landscapers, please see our Landscapers' page.
What Gardeners Who Mulch Say:
I've been mowing leaves into my lawn for three years now and will never rake my leaves again -- it saves tons of time and the lawn looks great because the leaf mulch actually feeds the lawn." David Gabrielson, Bedford Town Council Member "I've definitely noticed improvement in my lawn since mulching my fall leaves. Mulching improves your soil so the grass grows better. And it's a great time saver." Fiona Mitchell, home gardener, Bedford Hills
"Good gardeners know that you need good soil to grow healthy plants. And good soil starts with organic matter. Fall leaves are a great source of organic matter for your lawn as well as for your ornamental and vegetable beds." Anna Snider, Horticultural Resource Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Westchester County.
"Even though I have a small yard, I get a lot of leaves in the fall. For years now, I have been shredding the leaves and adding them to my perennial beds to amend the soil. They have improved the soil a lot and my plants seem much healthier as a result." Margi Corsello, home gardener, Katonah.
A note from Bedford Supervisor, Lee Roberts: "I am very supportive of this endeavor, both from an economic and environmental standpoint. The more we can mulch and return leaves to the ground, the better for us and for our lawns. I salute your education campaign and applaud your efforts: they are totally in concert with our Bedford 2020 objectives."
From Bedford 2020:
"Leave Leaves Alone is an important step toward fulfilling Bedford's Climate Action Plan. The Bedford 2020 Coalition applauds this effort to improve the health of our local soil and reduce the noise and gas pollution associated with carting leaves away each year. Initiatives like this will help achieve our goal of a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020."
