Fall is officially in full swing here, in Washougal, Vancouver, and Camas, Washington. Amongst the falling rain, leaves are dropping as well. Though the leaves can be a beautiful sight to behold, they can also wreak havoc on your lawn and yard.
How Leaves Affect Your Lawn
If you are like most people, you take pride in your lawn. In order for your lawn to stay lush and healthy, it requires, amongst other things, air and sunlight. Leaves that are allowed to fall and remain on your lawn, block both of these necessities from reaching your lawn. A lack of air and sunlight create unsightly brown or dead spots throughout your lawn, turning your once appealing lawn into an unsightly eyesore. Furthermore, leaves that are left to lay upon your lawn trap moisture. This trapped moisture creates a breeding ground for mold and fungus, which have extremely damaging effects on your lawn.
However, there is a simple remedy to all of these problems that leaves can create for your lawn; the continuous removal of them. Raking leaves into piles and composting them or removing them from your property is the best thing you can do for your lawn.
How Leaves Affect Other Portions of Your Property
Your lawn is not the only area of your yard to be concerned about in regard to leaves. Your driveway can quickly become overrun with leaf build up as well. Leaves left in the driveway are not only unsightly, but they can also be hazardous to your safety. Leaf buildup in your driveway can become slippery and create a condition that is unsafe for walking or even driving.
Leaves also pose a threat to the roof of your home. Leaves build up quickly in gutters, clogging them and leaving standing water on your roof. If left unchecked, it can create hazardous conditions for your house’s foundation as well. Since gutters and downspouts are meant to carry water away from these areas, it is important to remove any debris from them, so they function properly.
What to do with Leaves
There are a few options as to what can be done with the leaves in and around your yard. With any option, the first step is to rake up and collect all of the leaves. One thing that can be done with them is to simply compost them in your compost bin. Composted leaves break down drastically and create a great soil for gardens. Another option is to use the leaves as a mulch on your garden beds. Leaves are insulating and they retain moisture quite well; this makes them a prime candidate for mulch. Spreading leaves over your garden beds protects plants from frost and helps to retain moisture for plants as well. Furthermore, as they break down, they add beneficial nutrients to your soil!
Staying caught up with all of the leaves that fall during this time of year can be a tedious nightmare. However, Urban Eden is skilled in leaf removal and can get the job done quickly and efficiently. If this is something you would like help with, do not hesitate to contact us today. Call (360)567-6399 or simply fill out our free online estimate request form.