Leaf Cleanup Season is Here – How Can We Help?
Here at Pumpkin Brook we have a different approach to fallen leaves than most landscape companies. We advocate leaving a thin layer over garden beds as winter protection. This can easily be removed in spring.
But what about the 18″ deep drop from maple trees? For small properties, we recommend our hand rakes, electric blowers, and the leaf shredder.
An electric mower may also be used for small amounts of shredding, and this is particularly effective for oak leaves. Leaf cleanup will be quiet and efficient. The only noise will be brief from the shredding machine towed behind one of our dump trucks. The shredder helps to compact the load if we are removing all the leaves.
We may make a second pass in November after the oak trees drop their leaves if you have these trees in or near your yard. Shredded leaves can be put right back onto garden beds as a soil enhancer and natural mulch. We also use them at weedy woodland edges in some gardens or as a winter cover in a vegetable garden. Also they can be stockpiled for use next year on your property. Otherwise, we are prepared to take them away and save them for 2019.
Please let Kimberly at: kimberly@pumpkinbrookorganicgardening.com know if you would like to be scheduled for our leaf cleanup services.
And What About Deer?
Last year, we learned from our friend, the naturalist and author Mary Holland, that the enzymes in a deer’s stomach change with the seasons. In summer, they eat hostas and daylilies – soft greenery. In winter, they go for evergreens, both needled and broadleaf.
Al is prepared to spray the plants deer might love to browse in your yard with a smelly solution (patented, too) of garlic, hot pepper and rotten eggs. This coats the leaves or needles thoroughly in November, just when the deer begin to think about switching over to eating woody greenery. We have found the solution effective all winter, although reapplication can be done if needed. In some cases, we also cover plants with deer netting as a secondary deterrent.
Our crews attach “garlic clips” to the canes of hydrangeas and the tips of evergreens. These small pen-like clips emit a strong garlic odor that deer don’t like, good for up to eight months. We’ll be doing this in November also.
Leaf Shredder collects the windfall into Truck
