Seasonal Spotlight
CHECK OUT THESE SMALL ACTIONS
You can take to MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE!
FALL
Leave the Leaves
Here are three suggestions for leaving the leaves:
Leave’em
If it is feasible, and not on impervious surfaces, it is best to leave your leaves on the ground! Raking up fallen leaves and sending them to the County or City yard waste facility may be a normal autumn chore for most Americans, but this can be harmful to your local ecology and a waste of great nutrients in your lawn and garden.
Removing leaves removes wildlife habitat. Animals ranging from insects to reptiles, to even mammals rely on leaf litter for food and shelter. Important pollinators like moths and butterflies overwinter in fallen leaves.
Leaves also form a natural mulch that helps suppress weeds and fertilizes soils as they break down; great for lawns and gardens!
Mulch’em
If you must move them from your lawn (or are afraid of smothering your grass), you have a few options.
Based on research, mowing leaves into the lawn as leaves fall has been proven to improve the conditions of grass. The decomposed leaves will release nitrogen and phosphorus into the soil, the same nutrients in fertilizer typically applied in the fall. Set your mower to a 4” height and mow weekly. Leaves shred more efficiently with residual light morning dew. Visually inspect in the spring, and you will notice a pleasant difference.
You can also move your leaves to your garden mulch beds and use them as natural mulch! After a few rainstorms, the leaves will flatten and become a dark bronze color mulch that inhibits weed growth but allows perennials to emerge in the spring.
Compost’em
If you really want to have tidy, clean lawn and garden beds, consider composting your leaves on site instead of throwing them away. Here is a great article about the best steps to compost your leaves!
Get Planting!
Many homeowners think of spring as the prime time for planting trees, shrubs, and flowers, and it's certainly the most popular season for gardening. However,
did you know…
that fall is the best time to plant trees?
There are many benefits to planting trees in fall over the spring and summer seasons. Planting trees in fall can set your new trees up for less stress, better growth, and more success in the long term. Here are some of the advantages of fall planting.
Time for the Tree to Become Established
When you plant a tree in the fall it has more time to establish a healthy root system before the stress of the summer heat.
Fall rain & winter snow
Newly planted trees need ample water. Fall and winter weather in our area typically brings plenty of precipitation.
less maintenance
Since trees enter dormancy during the winter, they require less maintenance. Autumn rains provide natural watering, while the cooler soil temperatures promote healthy root development. This extra time allows the tree to establish itself, setting the stage for a strong, productive growing season the following year.
Where can you get trees to plant this fall?
we’re glad you asked!
WSA’s Groves of Gratitude program provides Anne Arundel County residents with single native trees and pre-designed native tree bundles to plant on their properties for a low suggested donation. Learn more and Order your Trees by clicking the button below.