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To rake up leaves or not?
To rake up leaves or not?
I’ve raked up leaves from the garden for years but am considering leaving them be this autumn! What’s your view?
Re: To rake up leaves or not?
I'd leave them, great organic matter for the soil. The earthworms and blackbirds will love you.
Re: To rake up leaves or not?
For me, it depends on what they land on.
If it's concrete or stones, I sweep them up every few days. I don't want them rotting into the stones or on the path/yard.
If it's lawn, I run over them with the lawnmower on high to mulch them (fertilize the lawn). If I've piles under trees, hedges, etc I regularly turn over the piles until rotted to stop rats, mice, etc nesting in them.
If it's concrete or stones, I sweep them up every few days. I don't want them rotting into the stones or on the path/yard.
If it's lawn, I run over them with the lawnmower on high to mulch them (fertilize the lawn). If I've piles under trees, hedges, etc I regularly turn over the piles until rotted to stop rats, mice, etc nesting in them.
Re: To rake up leaves or not?
Rake them up, put them in a black plastic bag, add some water if they're dry, punch a few holes for drainage and stick them somewhere out of the way. In about a year you'll have the best soil additive nature can provide.
Re: To rake up leaves or not?
It was on my to do list today. But looking at that weather, I think I'll give it a miss
Re: To rake up leaves or not?
About 70%of my acre is set to trees (by me). I brush away the leaves from my front door and path, and leave everything else as otherwise I'd be a slave to them. Sometimes I make patterns with them if I'm in the mood
Thinking out loud, and trying to be occasionally less wrong...
Re: To rake up leaves or not?
That is amazing isha. Imagine someone coming across that on their walk through a forest.
I'm glad to see the consensus is that the humble leaf is a valuable addition to soil conditioning and fertility. I would use truck loads of leaf litter if I could get my hands on it.
I'm glad to see the consensus is that the humble leaf is a valuable addition to soil conditioning and fertility. I would use truck loads of leaf litter if I could get my hands on it.
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Re: To rake up leaves or not?
Let fallen leaves lie
Eindhoven, in North Brabant, is encouraging its citizens to abandon blowers and rakes and to let fallen leaves in gardens or parks lie.
Raymond van de Sande, a manager at Ergon landscaping firm, said he sometimes had to explain the mission to the good folk of Eindhoven. “What is good about this is that it breaks with the tradition of gardening and the idea that everything has to look tidy,” he said.
He added that leaving leaves alone had many environmental benefits. “You let natural processes take their course, and you see that there are advantages not just in the areas of ecology and biodiversity but also with fewer weeds, and less need for water in the summer. When it rains, there is less runoff to the drains: it creates an entire process of improvements.”
Re: To rake up leaves or not?
I have a few medium sized Maple trees loads of leaves and helicopter seeds which I didn't bother raking this time last year. Got lots of Bullfinches in the garden eating the seeds on the ground. I did rake up everything in the following Spring though.
Re: To rake up leaves or not?
Well, in Ballincollig this morning, they'll have to rake the ones that have fallen on the paths of Main St. They are feckin' slippy for pedestrians.....