#1: “Leave It On The Lawn, Kingston!” MULCHING LEAVES
The City of Kingston and The Kingston Land Trust’s Garden Committee asks the citizens of Kingston to re-think bagging their leaves this season.
Lend a hand to help Kingston help itself, and the ”Leave it on the Lawn, Kingston!” program has been designed to do just that.
Here’s why, and here’s how:
* Mulching leaves takes a serious waste disposal problem and stops it at it’s source. Additionally, it only takes 1/4 of the time than bagging them.
* All municipal collection costs are avoided for leaves that are mulched by residents.
* Leaves contain 50-80% of the plants nutrients! The only ‘waste’ in leaf landscape ‘waste’ is in not using them as they were naturally intended.
* Leaves ultimately clog storm drains when raked into the street. By mulching, residents can help to keep our sewer system clear.
STEP ONE: Collect the leaves on your lawn.
STEP TWO: Remove any landscape waste items (such as sticks) from the pile that cannot be mowed.
STEP THREE: Level your leaf pile.
STEP FOUR: Mow your leaves! Two passes if necessary.
STEP FIVE: Leave your beautiful leaf mulch on the lawn, or....
STEP SIX: ...use leaf mulch in your gardens.
When I lived in Kingston 33 years ago and raked leaves in my parent’s lawn I gathered about 1000% more than what is in the photo of this article. I would have had enough leaves to cover the entire lawn in 3/4 inch of mulched leaves. Another hair brain idea. Wait until this winter when they suggest you remove the snow from the street in front of your house by having the entire family go outside and breathe your hot breath on it to melt it away rather than having the city clear it with the snow plows. LOL.
Thanks for your comment, Paul. We created an example of mulching so to show the simple steps here. But in fact, the property that we used is a city home that is about an acre + large with the same amount of leaves that you suggest if not more. The owner has no problem mulching and could attest. Certainly, some residents will continue to bag – such as yourself perhaps. Or even attempt to melt snow with hot air.
“Leave It On The Lawn’ is a campaign that is nationwide – with many communities participating and creating the program to suit their particular needs . It is designed to help cut service costs to shift tax dollars for a better use.
We do expect it to be a positive project in the City of Kingston.
Hi Paul. About 33 yrs ago I was indoctrinated into the family raking business in the very yard shown in the how to steps. Many hands made light work back in those days.
Since becoming mine 3 years ago, I have literally spent 4 months out of each year raking – 2 months in the fall and 2 months in the spring. The yard is large and is surrounded by some of the grandest maple trees I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. Certainly the pictures, taken early in the season, do not do justice to the thick blanket of leaves that covered my lawn when I left for work today.
Despite all the methods I’ve employed to rake, blow, tarp, drag, dump, or bag my leaves, by FAR the easiest is to just mow them. As long as I mow them about once a week, the leaves are very manageable and I do not have a thick layer of leaf mulch left behind, just beautiful tiny bits of leafy goodness that my lawn loves.
Given the costly and work intensive alternatives, it’s my pleasure to do something so small for my city.