Leaves, Leaves, Crunchy Leaves Everywhere

Good Afternoon.

Last evening I set out to gather the leaves in the front yard while I waited for the election results to roll in. We have been pretty fortunate because the wind seems to have blown many of the leaves in our neighborhood elsewhere. Usually we do at least one, if not two leave rounds in the yard. So far, only one small round for the Rubber City Homestead.

Raking is one of those necessities that can be enjoyable, not unlike mowing the lawn. With a good play mix to occupy the mind and a solid pair of gloves to protect the hands, it can really be a pretty good time!

I gathered our leaves into several piles in the yard and grabbed a tarp to start transporting them to the street.

Check out your voter registration card to see which ward you are in, then glance at this Akron City mailer for your leaf pick-up schedule:

With tarp-o-leaves in hand, I headed to the curb. Then I got to thinking. Grandpa mentioned something the other day about using leaves to insulate young trees, new plantings and other stuff you enjoy around your yard (or homestead).

I gave him a ring to find out the details.
Here is what I learned:

First, wrap any young trees with tree wrap stuff (easily picked-up at Lowe's or Home Depot). Next, run a ring of chicken wire about 2' in diameter around the tree. Fill the chicken wire frame with leaves, about a foot and a half high.

This will protect your young tree, bush or grape vine from any harsh freezes we may have this winter.

Improvisions. You know I like to put my own spin on things, even the wonderful advice Grandpa offers occasionally (though there is usually little room for tweaking because he has it DOWN PAT)!

Rather than purchasing the tree wrap, which will protect the little guy from rotting, I upcycled some wax covered cardboard (ie: milk carton, orange juice carton, produce box from the grocery store guys). Cut the card board to the height you want to cover on your young plant, then impart a little curvature by running it across a counter top edge a couple times. Gently place around the tree trunk and hold in-place with a zip tie.

Back to the leaves. If you have any left after you cover your young trees, bushes and vines, toss the remainder into your compost bin or scatter them right on top of your garden.

Grandpa also offered that oak leaves are particularly great for rose bushes, if you are the type that can grow these guys. (Seems to be the only thing so far that I can consistently kill or deter from blooming).  ha ha ha. We will have to work on that next year! New goal-- get a rose bush to bloom!

If you are waiting til next year to start your garden or compost, follow the schedule above appropriate dates to put the leaves out to the curb. If you have a garden or compost started, but that decomposing goodness to use for your own yard!

I may even ask the neighbors for some of their leaves... we will see.