AUTUMN IN CHECK: MANAGING AND MULCHING LEAVES

AUTUMN MUST DO: Clearing and managing autumn leaves
WHEN: Mid to late Autumn – when your leaves change colour and fall to the ground
DESCRIPTION: Collect autumn leaves with a blower & gather to clear them
OUTCOME: Collected leaves and debris to keep your garden & lawns tidy

Autumn is synonymous with fine and sunny days perfect for pottering in the garden or relaxing in your outdoor space. It’s also well known for leaves. Lots of leaves. Everywhere! As well as wanting to keep your garden neat and tidy, there are several other very practical reasons why keeping your leaves in check is good garden practice.

1. While a thin layer of leaf litter can act as a natural mulch for your lawn, too much leaf cover can eventually kill it off by blocking sunlight and airflow.
2. Too much debris can keep water from flowing into the soil and can increase the chance of fungus.

Whipping out your blower to begin clearing and gathering these…is the best way to ensure healthy lawns and beds ahead of Winter.

Charlie’s top tips for managing and mulching your Autumn leaves:

1. Blow your leaves to one spot before picking them up. This will allow more light onto your grass to maintain its colour and health. Clearing your pathways will slow down mould and mildew build-up.
2. To avoid blow back (when the leaves go everywhere!) keep the nozzle at a shallow angle. Blow in the same direction as the wind, and along walls.
3. You can put your mower on a high setting and mow your leaves, collecting them in the catcher. This will mince them up and increase their surface area, making them a perfect addition to the compost heap or for creating leaf mould which is a great soil additive. Featuring adjustable height and mulching capabilities, the RMA 510 V Self-Propelled Battery Lawn Mower is ideal for this task.
4. To make leaf mould, put all the leaves in a black plastic bag, fill with water and put a hole in the bottom. Once left for 6 months it’s ready to use.
5. If using a shredder vac, remove twigs, rocks and debris by hand before use, as these can damage the motor.
6. Save those leaves! Add them to your compost heap for use in your garden next year.

Charlie’s top tools for keeping garden debris in check:

• When it comes to Autumn leaf management, a leaf blower is the homeowner’s best companion. The BGA 57 Battery Blower is compact yet powerful, clearing up to three tennis courts of leaves on one charge.
  For those preferring petrol power, the BG 56 Petrol Blower delivers an excellent power-to-weight ratio, and quickly clears leaves and grass cuttings from any surface.
• For larger areas, use a shredder vac like the STIHL SH 86 C-E to collect the leaves at the same time, ready for mulching.
• Managing lawn leaf-litter is easy with the RMA 510 V Battery Lawn Mower. By simply flipping the mowing height to ‘HIGH’, inserting the mulching plug and activating the side chute, leaf -litter is conveniently and effectively transformed into mulch while you mow.
• I like to use a shredder to reduce garden waste before adding it to my compost. Not only does it oxygenate the mulch, it increases the surface area of the mulch particles, helping to break it down faster. The compact and powerful STIHL GHE 150 Electric Shredder is bound to make short work of clippings and branches with a diameter of up to 35mm.

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