A
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
Why Is It Important to Mulch Leaves?
Leaf Blowers Are Destructive to the Environment
Leaf blowers cause noise and diesel pollution and destroy valuable topsoil.We are spending hundreds of man hours blowing and raking leaves to get them to the roadside waiting for pick up. Before the town trucks come round many leaves blow right back onto your yard - or your neighbor’s yard!
-
Leaf blowing results in not just the leaves being blown, but your topsoil, necessary for healthy plant growth.
-
Because your plants have trouble growing in poor soil, which becomes compacted and doesn't receive sustenance through decomposing leaves, you are probably fertilizing to compensate.
-
Fertilizer can be expensive, and only provides a short-term solution to the soil nutrition problem. It doesn't solve the soil structure problem. Most fertilizers are not applied correctly and the excess chemicals leach into our waterways.
-
The time spent by our town workers (approx. 2,500 man hours each fall) could be spent on other things, improving productivity.
Think about it - an average of seven town vehicles used in Bedford for five weeks, means at least seven town workers, spending five full weeks collecting our leaves. If they weren't doing that they could be re-deployed to other priorities.
Piles of leaves in narrow streets are a safety hazard!
At the height of the fall season, leaf piles on the roads can reduce the width of the road by half causing a serious safety issue, especially with kids walking to school or waiting at the bus stop.Phosphorous Pollution
When leaves are left in piles on hard surfaces they release phosphorous as they decompose. This ends up in our ponds, waterways and reservoirs creating a perfect environment for algae bloom, which is increasingly contaminating our water. State law requires municipalities to pick up leaves within four weeks but science shows that the phosphorous is released far sooner than that. (When leaves decompose when mulched on lawns, phosphorus is not a problem as it is not concentrated and it is actually an important nutrient for plants, encouraging root development.)
What is Leaf Mulching?
Leaf mulching is the practice of chopping leaves into small pieces.
Mulched leaves can be left on your lawn (they fall between the grass
blades) or piled 3" or 4" deep on garden beds and around shrubs where
they act as a protective layer in the winter and, in the growing season,
prevent weed growth and help conserve water. Leaf mulch decomposes over
time, adding important nutrients and structure to the soil.Composted leaves reduce in volume more than 10-fold. NPR talks to the National Audubon Society about mulching
- saves money
- saves time
- adds nutrition to the soil
- improves soil structure for better plant growth
Enlightened landscapers are switching to mulching - is yours? Refer your landscaper to our Landscaper page.
New attachments for professional landscaper equipment makes mulching quick, easy and a big time saver. Local vendors are listed here.
These leaves were not chopped in the fall but were used as a 3" protective layer over a perennial bed for the winter. They'll be removed in the spring and chopped or mulched with a lawn mower and returned to the bed, where they will serve as a lighter protective mulch, allowing plants to grow, and slowly decompose and nourish the soil.
Leaf Mulch Makes Cents!
To add a 2” layer of mulch to a 40 x 4 ft flower or vegetable bed you need one cubic yard (or 13.5 x 2 cu. ft. bags) of mulch. If you get one cubic yard of mulch delivered to your home, it costs about $30; plus there's usually a delivery charge of about $40.
Leaf mulch is FREE!
Leaf Mulch Is Safe
When you use your own leaves to mulch your beds you know that they are disease free. Commercial mulch is usually made from trees that have to come down for a reason -- and who knows the reason? When you bring mulch onto your property you risk importing disease or harmful insects.
