Saturday 18 September 2021

When to Rake your Leaves

 


My backyard is lined with tall red oak trees along the creek. In fall I spend quite a bit of time taking care of those leaves. To me, it’s an enjoyable job but I have learned a few shortcuts along the way.

So when should you start to rake your leaves?


As long as the grass continues to grow, you can continue to mow your lawn. This will mulch the first falling leaves of the season. I take this lawn mulching and add to the compost bin or cover a garden if its retired for the season. Once the lawn has ceased growing, it is the right time to begin raking.

Tip: If you don’t have a lawn sweeper, rake the leaves onto an old sheet and pull the sheet to the compost pile. It’s easier than loading and unloading a wheelbarrow or garden cart.

Where to rake


There are some people who leave leaves that fall and collect under trees and shrubs where they are to compost by themselves. If you have a more natural look in the backyard this is an easy alternative. The leaves will break down into mulch on their own and benefit the soil and plants.

Open areas of lawn however will need to be raked. A thick carpet of leaves can kill a lawn or create bare spots because they do take so long to break down. They also will block the sunlight the grass needs to grow in the spring so the grass will get a tattered look and may even get a disease.

Make sure that you rake the areas where the leaves blow and gather into deep piles such as along the foundation of your home, ditches, pathways or fences and gates.

The proper rake


There are certain rakes that will do a better job or that are easier to use. The old-fashioned rakes often will get clogged at the ends. This means you take time out of raking to clean out the tines. I have also stuck myself a few times when in a rush cleaning tines. I didn’t cut myself but it didn’t feel good.

Newer rakes are available with variations in the design of tines. This makes them less likely to clog as often. A thicker handle will help to decrease the fatigue to your hand. Also make sure the handle has no cracks or areas that can sliver and cause an injury.

Rakes with comfort grips will prevent hand-slippage and reduce blisters. As will a good pair of garden gloves.

And if you have back trouble or just want to reduce muscle strain, an ergonomically designed rake may be the right choice for you. Almost all garden centers and farm supply stores carry tools designed to ease back and muscle strain.

How often should you Rake?


It’s not necessary to rake every time the wind blows a few leaves from the trees to your lawn. However, it is not wise to wait until the leaves have piled up too deep. In my backyard near the oak trees I have a heavy leave fall so I rake about twice a week during the heavy leaf fall. A normal yard raking could be raked somewhere between 3 and 5 times, depending on the size of your lawn. Just remember to spread the work out over a few weeks to make it more enjoyable. Really raking leaves can be a relaxing backyard task.

Fall is my favorite time of the year. I like the feel in the air and the abundant colors in NW Pa. And if I take care of the leaves in stages it’s a fun, relaxing task that benefits my compost pile and next year’s gardens.

Saturday 24 July 2021

Easy Composting with Black Garbage bags

 


According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, yard waste such as leaves accounted for more than 13 percent of the 250 million tons of garbage that Americans put in landfills in 2008. Just think of the impact that has on landfills and townships collecting leaves and disposing of them.

An environmentally friendly and garden friendly was to clean your yard of leaves is to use a black bag composting method. I use this method when I am in a hurry and want to collect leaves and forget about them until spring.

All you need are black garbage bags and a place to set them until spring. I will often set them in a place where I might want to put in a new garden the following year – if its out of site and not in the front yard! Along a garage or by a storage shed or woodpile is also a good location.

Why black garbage bags? They will attract and hold heat from the sun helping the leaves to compost faster.

First rake the yard and fill the black bags with leaves. Add a little water and close them with tie wraps. If you have grass clipping you light want to mix some of them in. Place them in an out of the way place and ignore until spring.

In the spring check the leaves to see how they are breaking down. You may want to add grass clipping or straw if you have it. I lightly sprinkle the leave mix and seal it up.

Usually by march the leaves have broken down and can be used in gardens or added t o compost and stirred in. I use the leaf compost around new shrubs or perennials. Its a cheap green gardening technique for your home and garden areas.

One thing that will also help leaves to break down quicker is if they have been mowed. By mowing the leaves you break them into smaller pieces that will decompose at a quicker rate.

Composting by black garbage bags works well in towns and suburban areas where you might not be able to set up a composting bin. They can be easily moved and tucked into small spaces. And within a few months you will have a rich soil mix to add to the soil.

Sunday 6 June 2021

Tips for easy Fall Bulb Planting


Garden centers have a full and impressive selection of bulbs for next years landscaping needs. As fresh as the bulbs are this is a great time to select new varieties of start a bulb garden.

A bulb garden or addition of bulbs to your backyard will make a easy backyard project that will take little space and be affordable.

Tips for planting bulbs in the fall

One mistake many new gardeners make with planting bulbs is finding the right time to plant them. This has been a mistake I made for many years.

Always wait and plant the bulbs after the first frost. You can prepare the soil and garden beds before so that you are ready to plant the bulbs in a few hours.

A bulb planter will also help you to get the correct depth for the bulb. Most large bulbs are planted around eight inches deep and six inches apart. Smaller bulbs are placed around five inches deep and three inches apart. Read the directions on the package for how deep and far apart to plant your bulb variety.

If bulbs are bought individually, there is usually a guide in the store for planting. Make note of the planting directions. I usually take a note pad with me when buying new plants to write down any additional information form the store or employees.

Bulbs do not need fertilizer, but a bulb releasing food is good. Avoid using bone meal because it attracts some animals.

Place the bulb with the tip up and replace the soil. If you are not sure which end the tip is, plant the bulb on its side. The side of the bulb is always easy to tell and the plant will grow correctly. (If you plant the bulb upside down it will struggle to grow.)

Pat the soil in place and water thoroughly. You may want to mulch the area to help retain water.

Note: if you live in an area where animals may bother your plants you may want to plant the bulbs in a metal net container, in a pail with no bottom or place chicken mesh over the soil to protect the bulbs.

When to Rake your Leaves

  My backyard is lined with tall red oak trees along the creek. In fall I spend quite a bit of time taking care of those leaves. To me, it’s...