Mow - Don't Bag Those Leaves

For years we have thought that we must bag and discard our leaves by bagging them. But, what about just mowing?

When we mow leaves we leave all the nutrients on our lawn. These nutrients when returned to the soil are then used by our turf.

Recent studies show mulching leaves and leaving them on the lawn has no adverse effect on the turf, so mulch those leaves and forget the bag.

Mow slowly and leave the height adjustment alone. It may take a few extra passes across the lawn to finally mulch the leaves. Realize the finer the leaves are shred, the faster they decompose. Usually, the leaves are out of sight in two to three days, especially if a rain occurs.

Try shredding those leaves. Life can be easier if we are willing to learn.

Gift Ideas

There is something special about this season when we take time to give to others and show we care. I think gardeners always appreciate gardening gifts, so think about these ideas for your Christmas shopping list.

Every gardener needs a great pair of pruners to trim and shape their plants. These should be of high quality for an avid gardener. They should be repairable and fit the gardener's hand. Check to see if they are right or left handed because both are available in a quality hand pruner.

If the person you are shopping for weeds, they will need a light sharp hoe with a quality steel head that holds an edge longer and provides better service. A hoe should be light and built to scrape around plants. Hoes with dull edges tend to cause people to chop the soil and penetrate so deeply that it destroys valuable roots around plants.

A quality shovel is beneficial when it comes to planting. The shovel also needs to be able to sharpen to a fine edge. Digging a hole with a quality shovel is very easy compared to one made with dull, low quality steel. I like to buy shovels at yard sales and flea markets. You can buy fine quality for $10 or less. For a shovel with that kind of steel today, the cost would be over $50.

Plants are also great gifts and gardeners like new varieties and special colors. If you have a gardening friend, you know their favorite plant and you can look for that special variety in a local nursery or garden catalog.

Sharing gardening gifts is always exciting for every gardener because it warms the heart for spring during the cold winter. This Christmas look for quality and make gardening next spring easier for your gardening friends. Sharing is what makes gardening fun.

Hanging of the Greens