(ARA) – As Mother Nature adorns the trees in your yard with riotous reds, vibrant yellows and exotic oranges, you can easily get swept up in the romance of the season – until those leaves turn brown, drop from the branches and litter your lawn. Then you start to think of the hours of backbreaking raking work ahead of you.

This autumn, why not try working with Mother Nature by mulching those leaves instead of raking, bagging and condemning them to a landfill?

Leaf mulching is a time-saving, environmentally friendly way to deal with fallen leaves. Plus, if you live in a community that has cut back on collection services due to the economy, mulching can solve your dilemma of what to do with the leaves littering your lawn.

“It doesn’t make sense to rake leaves and bag them, just to have them end up decomposing in a landfill,” says Dr. Phil Dwyer, senior scientist at The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. “Leaf mulching recycles a natural resource and enriches the soil of your lawn for free.”

In fact, turf benefits by receiving more nutrients when you mulch fall leaves back into the lawn instead of raking them, according to a study by Michigan State University turfgrass researcher Thom Nikolai and ScottsMiracle-Gro scientists. Recycling fallen leaves saves time and money, adds nutrients to the soil, speeds spring greening and reduces weeds.

Here’s how to recycle this fall’s crop of fallen leaves:

* Remove the grass catcher from your lawn mower. Mow over the leaves on your lawn. Repeat until they are reduced to dime-sized pieces.

* Mow until you see about half an inch of grass through the mulched leaf layer.

Any kind of rotary-action mower will do the job, and all kinds of leaves can be mulched. Throughout the season, you can chop up to 18 inches total of leaf clutter with several passes of the mower. Having a somewhat thick layer of mulched leaves is okay as long as you can still see the green grass blades poking through. As leaf bits settle into the ground, microbes and worms get to work recycling them.

Once you’ve enriched your soil with leaf mulching, don’t forget that fall is the best time to feed and seed your lawn. A few simple steps can help ensure that your lawn will be strong next season and beyond:

* After mulching, feed your lawn with Scotts Turf Builder WinterGuard fall lawn fertilizer to help build strong, deep roots for a better foundation and a more robust lawn next year. The nitrogen in the fertilizer will also help the mulched leaves decompose faster. Be sure to sweep excess fertilizer off hard surfaces like driveways and sidewalks.

* After feeding, spread seed where needed. To reseed your bare spots, dig up bare areas, mix in compost, sow your seeds and cover with more compost. If the weather is dry, keep the seeded soil moist until new grass begins to grow. Seeding autumn bare spots will thicken the lawn and make it more resistant to future bare spots.

To learn more about leaf mulching and autumn lawn care, visit www.scotts.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Compost bins and tumblers are a hassle-free way to create good-for-your-garden compost.

Leaves turn brilliant colors, evenings cool and the kids go back to school. So long summer, hello fall garden cleanup.

You may already know that composting is a better way to deal with bags of leaves and backyard waste. But if you’ve avoided composting because it seems like too much work and mess — or you just weren’t sure how to start — fall is a great time to try your hand at turning this year’s yard debris into next year’s natural fertilizer.

Composting delivers many benefits. Modern gardeners face strict waste removal ordinances in many communities. Plus, growing environmental consciousness inspires gardeners to minimize their eco footprint while cleaning up the back yard. Composting is a cost-effective, eco-friendly way to convert your yard debris into “black gold” – a nutrient rich, all-natural, safe fertilizer for next spring’s planting season.

Fall, by nature, is an exceptional time to begin composting. Dry leaves, grass clippings and woody materials represent a large percentage of total yard waste. Each offers either the carbon or nitrogen components necessary for the decomposition process that takes place during composting. Add air and water, and you’re well on your way to rich, loamy compost.

The trick to successful composting is to maintain a working balance between carbon and nitrogen. A simple rule of thumb is to use one-third green and two-thirds brown materials. This allows oxygen to penetrate and nourish the organisms that reside within the material.

You don’t have to live with an unsightly, foul-smelling compost heap to do your part for the environment. Compost bins and tumblers are a hassle-free way to create good-for-your-garden compost. Bins are basic, but tumblers add an element of motion, something that can enhance the quality of your compost.

Tumblers add an element of motion to enhance the quality of your compost.

The Tumbleweed Compost Tumbler by Clear Air Gardening is a good example of how tumblers work to produce great compost. The Tumbleweed holds 58 gallons worth of kitchen scraps and yard waste. When full and finished breaking down, each batch contains enough compost for a medium sized garden or flowerbed, or a 10 feet by 10 feet area of lawn.

Unlike typical tumblers, the Tumbleweed features a stainless steel rod running through the middle of the bin that helps break down materials even more quickly than tumblers without a rod. The twist-lock, animal resistant lids on each end make filling and emptying the compost tumbler simple. Built-in vents allow rainwater to drain easily, keeping your compost moist, aerated and odorless. The end result is organic, nutrient rich compost in as few as 21 days. All that’s required is a daily spin of the tumbler.

Compost materials can be added to bins and tumblers year round. Although the process will naturally slow or cease in the winter when temperatures decline, the process will resume again in the spring and summer as temperatures slowly begin to rise.

First time composters may be surprised to find that finished compost smells earthy, fresh and natural. They may be even more surprised to learn that compost can suppress plant diseases and pests, reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers and increase water retention in the soil — all great benefits that ultimately save consumers money while safeguarding the environment.

Convenience and environmental stewardship aside, compost is essential to vibrant lawns and healthy gardens. The rich macro and micro nutrients in the well-aerated compost replenish the soil that grasses, shrubs, trees and flowers need to grow and fend off disease.

Compost started in fall can be used for planting fall bulbs, trees, transplants and as mulch to protect vegetation from winter’s cold. Fall leftovers can be used to prepare the soil in spring for vegetable gardens, flowerbeds and around trees and shrubs. As mulch, compost will retain moisture in the summer.

For more information on creating your own “black gold” by composting, visit www.cleanairgardening.com.

Courtesy of ARAnet

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Bark Mulch is not only a way to protect your flowers and create a layer of weed control but it is also a great way to decorate a space, tie in flower beds or create lovely walking paths through a garden or yard.

There are a number of different types of bark mulch including:

• Hemloch Bark Mulch:  This is one of the more popular mulch, it provides a vibrant color that ranges from a dark brown to a brownish red.  The mulch is usually preferred since it has a very beautiful smell and it decomposes slowly. This means, less time spent replenishing your mulch.  Another bonus with Hemloch Bark Mulch is that it is a “sliver-free” mulch and it provides all the benefits to your garden that other mulches do.
• Douglas Fir Bark Mulch: Another popular product that can bring a rich dark chocolate color with a hint of red to your garden.  It is a versatile mulch and it can be used for all of the same reasons that you would use any other mulch.  One of the biggest bonuses for Douglas Fir Bark Mulch is that you can purchase it as a shredded mulch and also as a nugget.
• Pine Bark Mulch:  This is one of the more cost effective mulches that you can buy.  It has a reddish brown color and is usually used to cover larger areas since it is a cheaper alternative to other bark mulches.
• Cedar Bark Mulch:  There are several types of Cedar Bark Mulch but one of the best cedar mulches is the Western Red Cedar Bark Mulch.  It is a reddish brown in color with just a slight touch of orange and has an excellent smell to it.  Cedar Bark Mulch is one of the most weather resistant of all mulches and you will find that fewer pieces will blow away during a wind storm.  The product also has a natural herbicide in the bark that helps control weeds in your garden.

And that was a run down of a few bark mulches that you can purchase.  If you are looking for cost effective, go with a pine mulch but if price is no deterrent, then by all means go with whatever will look good in your landscaped space.

Sirena Van Schaik

Photo Credit

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There are many different types of mulch. Just as there are different fertilizers, mulches come made from different materials. They can be bought commercially, or you can create your own mulch and save money. The two main classifications of mulch are inorganic and organic. Many people believe that all mulch is organic, but it is not. Inorganic mulches, while more effective at keeping out weeds, will not add to the composition of the soil, as it contains no nutrients to put into the soil. Inorganic mulches include various types of pulverized rubber, some geotextile fabrics, and even stones and lava rock. Organic mulches are comprised of things like woods chips, bark, leaves, pine needles, compost mixtures, cocoa hulls, and other mulches derived from plants. Even shredded paper, used in small amounts, can contribute to organic mulch.

The first thing to realize when properly applying mulch is that there is such a thing as too much. Too much mulch can result in a variety of problems. Because mulch does help retain moisture, too much mulch can lead to excess moisture. Especially in trees, this can lead to root rot. Do not pile mulch against the stems of plants or the trunks of trees, as this can cause stress on the plant tissues and lead to pest problems. Too much mulch can also alter the pH of the soil, causing toxicities or deficiencies. Piled mulch provides nice homes for rodents, which in turn may chew the plant roots and cause tree girdling. Fine mulch can become matted if too thick and then prevent air and moisture penetration. Be aware of the type of mulch you are using. Replace inorganic mulch each year, and if you have mulch that breaks down slowly (like mulch containing cypress bark), do not add more mulch each year. Wait until the mulch is mostly broken down before adding a new layer.

Proper mulch depth is about two to four inches deep, and not directly up against trunks or plant stems. For trees, mulch should be applied at least out to the drip line, with a space between the mulch and the tree. The drip line is the border of the canopy of the tree. Root systems extend beyond the drip line, so it is okay to spread a thin layer of mulch beyond the drip line. In order to properly apply mulch, it is important to take into account several factors. You should first inspect the area. Find out if there is enough drainage, you should also determine whether the type of mulch you will use is compatible with the plants you have. Check the depth of already placed mulch and do not add more if the depth is sufficient. Rake the mulch to prevent matting. There are vegetable-based dyes that can improve the appearance of mulch that may be fading, but that does not need to be replaced. If there is poor drainage, 2 inches may be too much. Apply a thinner layer of mulch in these areas to prevent too much moisture retention.

The benefits of proper mulching are many. When properly applying mulch, you are contributing to the health of your landscape, making it more resistant to disease, insects, and drought. Organic mulches also contribute to the make up of the soil, adding nutrients and making the soil richer and better for the plants. By making good use of mulch, and avoiding excesses, it is possible for you to increase the health of your landscape and decrease the costs associated with maintenance and treatment.

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