THE QUESTION: What do you do with leaves in the fall? Burn them, compost them, blow them somewhere else, leave them, etc?
Burn ‘em, or let the city pick them up
My husband diligently burns them, which seems to be a never-ending job.
As you know, the city of Osage Beach does a leaf pick up, which begins next week on Monday.
Nancy Viselli, Osage Beach
Compost piles feed garden that feeds us
Those beautiful leaves of summer providing us shade, now finding the ground, autumn has surely arrived.
There are many methods to deal with natures shedding in preparation for winter’s snow and colder temperatures.
Mulching is one I prefer, making them into smaller pieces they break down faster.
Once mulched, you can turn them into your garden area, adding natural nutrients in preparation for spring’s arrival and the new planting season.
Some can be added to your compost materials to use all during the growing season, Oh yes and for fishing as well.
Composting materials are a natural for worm growing and the worm castings make a natural nutrient for your garden as well.
Not only do I get a fine garden material from doing this, I get fishing bait as well.
Let us not forget that they are good for the lawns providing natural nitrogen for landscape maintenance.
Carol Ferguson, Montreal
Composting doesn’t set accidental fires
I compost mine. There should be a law against burning leaves.
That alone cost us taxpayers an enormous amount of money.
How many fires a day have gotten out of control and required fire dept intervention?
Every time a fire truck rolls, its cost us money and puts some one else in jeopardy.
You might think about it if it was your home on fire and the fire department was busy putting out a fire started by burning leaves.
But what do you care, leaf burner, it’s not your house.
David Grossen, Osage Beach
They’re fodder for the fire pit gods
We burn them in our fire pit area, in a small fire that goes on for a couple days.
We just stand around raking, talking and socializing in general. Good times.
A couple neighbors burn them down in the gravel where the lake is down, so the ashes get washed into the lake in the spring.
It would be nice if Water Patrol would just cruise the “smoky coves” and ticket people burning where it ends up in the lake.
Bill Heckart, Horseshoe Bend/Sioux City, Iowa
We mulch what few we get with the lawnmower
I am very fortunate that I do not have very many leaves. There are a few leaves that collect at the far end of my carport that will have to be raked out into the yard.
We usually just let the lawnmower mulch them up. This way, the lawn receives nutrition, the worms are fed, and the spring robins will be quite happy.
I was taught from a boy to think about organic gardening and that also applies to lawn care.
James R. Hall, Camdenton
The fifth solution works so well
This is an answer that that is based on vast experience and trial and error and without a doubt the most efficient solution; at least for me.
First, raking: too hard on the back.
Second, blowing: just blew back.
Third, burning: just didn’t feel safe. Fourth, tried to ignore them. Didn’t work, they would not go away.
Then, like a bolt out of the blue, the answer!
Sold the house along with the trees and bought a condo, and now I just look out the window admire the beautiful colors, and go to bed knowing they will magically be gone tomorrow.
Mike Donovan, Camdenton
Let nature take its course
Leaves and worms are nature's most critical components in our ecosystem.
I leave them both alone.
William Schaefer, Rocky Mount
