Fall is here, and with it comes the annual task of yard cleanup. The vibrant colors of autumn are beautiful, but the fallen leaves and leftover pumpkins can turn your yard into a bit of a mess. Let’s break down how to handle those leaves—mulching vs. raking—and what to do with those Halloween pumpkins.

Mulching Leaves: A Garden’s Best Friend 🍁🌿

Mulching leaves is like giving your yard a nutritious snack! By using a lawnmower with a mulching blade, you chop leaves into tiny pieces that decompose and enrich your soil. Here are some more pros and cons:

Pros:

Soil Boost: Mulched leaves turn into compost, adding essential nutrients to your garden soil.

Less Work: No need to bag up the leaves or haul them away—just mow and go!

Moisture and Weed Control: Mulch helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.

Cons:

Leaf Thickness: If you have too many leaves, they might need to be raked first or spread thinly to avoid smothering your grass.

Appearance: If you choose not to bag the leaves while mowing, it can make your yard look messy.

Raking Leaves: The Classic Choice 🍂🧹

Raking is the time-honored way to handle fallen leaves. You gather them into piles, which can be bagged for disposal or composted.

Pros:

Neat Appearance: Raking gives your yard a crisp, clean look.

Flexible Disposal: You can compost the leaves or bag them for yard waste pickup.

Cons:

Labor-Intensive: Raking can be hard work, especially if you have a lot of leaves.

Waste Management: Bagging leaves means they could end up in a landfill unless you compost them.

Whether you choose to mulch or rake, it’s important to remember that if you have a pup be careful of what you pick up. Similarly, get those bags out for disposal. Storing bags of leaves with dog waste can make for a smelly garage all winter.

Pumpkin Disposal: A Treat for the Soil 🎃♻️

After Halloween, pumpkins can add to the mess. Throwing a pumpkin in the trash is easy, but bad for the environmental. When pumpkins end up in landfills, they break down anaerobically (without oxygen), releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Instead of tossing them in the trash, consider these eco-friendly options:

Composting: Pumpkins break down easily in compost piles, enriching the soil.

Wildlife Feed: Cut them up and leave them outside for birds and other wildlife to enjoy.

Farm Donations: Some cities have a drop-off program where the pumpkins are returned to farms and used for composting.

If your community does not offer a drop-off or composting option, you can become a community leader and start your own program. Many businesses and local government want to support green initiatives.

Whether you’re mulching leaves, raking them up, or disposing of pumpkins, a little fall cleanup goes a long way in keeping your yard looking its best. Embrace the season and enjoy the crisp autumn air while giving your yard some TLC! 🍂🌟