Do you bag your leaves after raking or leave in a pile? (landscaping, fertilizer)

[villageidiot1]

Originally Posted by David A Stone

(regarding lime and ph)


I am a retired farmer and have limed many of my fields.
(I did that because alfalfa performs best at 6.7)


However, since it takes one ton of lime per acre to raise the ph just .1 points, I question the need for just raising .........grass.

I go by the recommendations from the Penn State Center for Turfgrass Science. They recommend that established lawns and other general turfgrass areas should not receive more than 100 pounds of limestone per 1,000 square feet in any single application.

[dj10]

Our township allows us to put leaves in the street along the curb for pickup. They go around all the streets every week (unless rain throws their schedule off) from November until the first week in December.


I just raked some today and this should be the last pick up for the season. Since I know they usually come on my street on a Monday I will try to put off raking until a day or two before. I haven't really had much trouble with them blowing around. Once you pile them up they start to "settle" especially with the overnight dampness.


We also have a site where the township residents can drop off Christmas trees and yard trimmings. Everything is turned into mulch.

[Bazzwell]

Bless my luck as I live in the country on basically an island between two roads. Whatever leaves come down seem to find their own way off the hill. You have no idea of the blessing that is after three decades of living with a neighbor who had the largest Maple tree in town. Every stinking leaf off that tree piled up against my garage, hip high. Heck, now I don't even own a rake!

[Nov3]

Back in the day...When my husband and I had a boarding house for College grads, we were blessed with a tenant. He was an agriculture specialist. He said, "Let the leaves be", They are a blanket for your grass and bedding during the winter. Sweep up on the drive way, but let the leaves alone. So we tried it one year. Sure enough come spring- our flower beds and grass were none the worse from keeping the leaf coverage.

Unless they are clogging the gutters , sewer grates, or creating damage around certain shrubs...then tender concern.

[Ohky0815]

I dont rake them, dont have a reason but i dont. I dont have trees either.

Now my neighbor and all his smartness did blow his and decided MY yard was the place to put them. You have no idea how badly i have wanted to go put them all back in his yard........

[Steve McDonald]

Those who don't know this, be aware that piled leaves can undergo anaerobic combustion (spontaneous combustion) and may burst into full flame, especially if they are disturbed. A neighbor one piled leaves high against my wood workshop building and when I pitchforked them away, I had a big fire roar up.

[nmnita]

WE hire them done and yes, the guy bags them as well. All that fall after he finishes are left to hopefully, blow away. Other wise hubby will get out in early spring a rake them, but not bag them, just rake them into the vacant treed lots on either side of our yard. that what most do around here. We live in a semi rural area with few fences and lot of vacant land.

[Ghengis]

live "in the country" and have about 2 or 3 acres of lawn.



pick mine up with the rider and bag system and spread them a few inches deep on one of three garden beds and till them in. I'll usually collect 3 or 4 bags and use those to mulch some of the more tender shrubs and perennials. More end up in various leaf mold piles scattered here and there for use later. Many from the oak and willows that drop later, sit all winter where they fell and get mowed up in the spring.

[Ohky0815]

Originally Posted by Steve McDonald

Those who don't know this, be aware that piled leaves can undergo anaerobic combustion (spontaneous combustion) and may burst into full flame, especially if they are disturbed. A neighbor one piled leaves high against my wood workshop building and when I pitchforked them away, I had a big fire roar up.

well good in that case his truck will catch fire,

[bg7]

Back in the old country (I've been here 25 yrs) we were careful not to disturb piles of leaves till the summer due to animals nesting there - mainly sleeping hedgehogs. I live in the northeast now and there doesn't seem to be any equivalent critters so we rake them out to the street where the local authority comes and vacuums them up into a truck once a month.