Here in Georgia, we are surrounded by trees, which really just means that by mid-autumn, our lawns are covered in a blanket of crunchy brown and orange leaves. Now, as much as we love this scenery, people typically don't want their lawns, driveways, sidewalks, and streets covered in leaves for too long.
You're probably familiar with the ways most home homeowners remove their leaves, but did you know there are ways you can utilize them to help your lawn prosper during an upcoming dormant season?
Why is Leaf Removal Needed?
Well, aside from covering up parts of your property you may want uncovered, like a driveway, leaf removal is important to the health of your lawn's root system. As we approach a dormant system for grasses in Georgia, such as Zoysia and Bermudagrass, its important to make sure your lawn is getting as many nutrients as possible with limited sunlight.
If covered by a thick blanket of leaves, your lawn will miss out on the basic necessities it needs, such as water, air, and sunlight. Not only can leaves block out nutrients, but they can prevent natural evaporation around the grass blades, encouraging the growth of fungi and bacteria, which can bring unwanted pests or insects.
1. Raking
When most people think of fall lawn maintenance, they think of raking their fallen leaves into a pile and then disposing of them some way or keeping them. If you have a pile of leaves that you have raked up and you're unsure of what to do, take a look around your yard to see if they might be needed somewhere.
Leaves can easily be transferred to an area in your yard to use for composting purposes, or bagged up in paper bags. Check with your waste management service to see if they offer pick curbside pick up for disposal.
2. Leaf Blower
One of the quickest and easiest ways to clear your lawn from fallen leaves is by using a leaf blower. Leaf blowers can run off gasoline or electricity, and having a battery-powered blower to clear off surfaces around your home's exterior can be a great investment as well come pollen season.
One of the main downsides of using a leaf blower is that because you are projecting the leaves away from your position, making it challenging to corner the leaves into a pile or bag. This process typically ends up involving some sort of raking at the end, but overall can speed up the process, especially if your leaves have collected a great deal of moisture.
3. Leaf-Cycling
Leaf cycling is hands down the most productive way to handle your lawn's leaf coverage. One of the most efficient ways to accomplish leaf-cycling in your yard is by mulching. This can be done by mowing your leaf-covered lawn without bagging the clippings. The mowers blades will break down the leaves into a finer, organic substance which can greatly benefit your lawn's root system.
The shredded pieces of the leaves will settle into the base of the grass blades and provide some incredibly sustaining nutrients for your lawn entering the dormant season.
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