![]() ![]() Speaking of compost, you can also use a layer of compost as a natural mulch. “Professionals recommend shredding leaves with a lawn mower and mulching with a heavy layer of leaves around plants for added protection, nutrients, and moisture,” she says. Henriksen recommends using the leaves for mulch instead of bagging them. LeavesĪs summer fades into fall, you’ll see more leaves in your yard. And don’t use clippings of grass that has been treated with herbicide. ![]() Susan Brandt of Blooming Secrets, an e-commerce gardening website, advises against applying the grass mulch too thick because it can result in sogginess. “Fresh grass contains high levels of nitrogen that may have a negative effect and burn your plants,” she warns. “The key with grass is to set it aside for a few months before using it on your garden,” says Henriksen. Claim homeĪnother source of free mulch is also right in your yard: grass clippings. Grass clippingsĬlaim your home to stay up-to-date of your home‘s value and equity. ![]() “There is a fee associated with dumping, as well as fuel cost, drive time, and employee time,” he says. The reason for their generosity? Scott says many companies, especially those in urban areas, have to pay to dump their chips at the end of the day. “Many services are willing to offload their chips for free, and they may even be willing to deliver it right to your driveway.” “Tree services are a great resource for fresh mulch, as they generate and need to dispose of wood chips on a daily basis,” Henriksen says. ![]() So naturally they’re bound to have some extra shredded wood on their hands. Tree care companies remove trees that have fallen, grown too large, or need to be removed to clear land. But be aware that the mulch from these places might not be 100% pure.Īccording to Dan Scott, associate director of horticulture and River Farm at the American Horticultural Society, in Alexandria, VA, the source material is not screened, so there may also be some plastic and other stuff in there. Mulch may be doled out at recycling and disposal centers. Check with your city to see if this is an option where you live. City or county disposal siteĪccording to Henriksen, many cities or local townships that collect leaves and tree limbs in the fall will offer free mulch to residents. So gear up and go forth to these places where gardeners can get free mulch. Voss also recommends bringing a shovel and a tarp, and transporting your mulch via truck so you don’t get the interior of your vehicle dirty. “Many free mulch places are self-serve, so you’re going to want to bring some supplies or an extra pair of hands,” says S teven Voss, owner of Voss Land & Tree, in Columbia, MO. The blower function can be used to clear a light dusting of snow from decks, patios, and walkways, buying you a little time before you have to break out your snow blower.But before we reveal these secret locations, there are a few pointers you should know. Some models (and aftermarket attachments) have curved nozzles specifically designed for blowing or sucking leaves out of gutters-but make sure to follow the safety guidelines if you’re working from a ladder.Īnd, as with all leaf blowers, don’t rush to store your tool at the first sign of winter. The vacuum is also helpful for tidying up porches, patios, and decks as trees shed their last leaves of the season. Lingering leaves, particularly if they’re wet, will break down and start to smell funky. When you’re finished, be sure to empty the bag and flip it inside out to clean it thoroughly. Use the blower’s vacuum mode to suck up any stragglers and to work around bushes and flower beds, where a blower could damage plants or send soil and mulch flying. (For tips, check out CR’s clever strategies for dealing with leaves.) After that, you can jump over to vacuum mode.įor some models, that’s as easy as flipping a switch from "blow" to "vacuum." Others might require you to install or attach a bag, which usually just twists on by hand, though, in some cases, you may need a small tool, like a hex key. Start in leaf-blower mode, and corral the bulk of your leaves into a large pile. ![]()
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