I've lived in my little house for seven years now. Technically, I own two trees: a towering fir that sits behind my garage, and the little apple tree I planted a couple of years ago. Neither is big on fall leaf production. My neighbor has an oak tree on the property line, and I do have two serviceberries on the patch between the sidewalk and the street (we always called it the tree lawn).
Every fall, I revisit the dilema of raking. I don't particularly like to rake, and it seems to me that it makes sense to wait until almost all of the leaves are down to get started raking. This has the potential of annoying the neighbors, as fallen leaves blow to their property. I admit that there have been one or two years when the raking got away from me because a storm came in and blew the leaves away. I have only felt mild guilt at this.
There are renters on the corner that have done a major (as in 10-15 garbage bags' worth) raking job three (3!) times this fall. Their grass has looked immaculate after each effort. For about 2 days.
This year, the leaves on the tree lawn were definitely sitting there waiting to be raked, and I felt the obligation to get them up and out. I think what also made it easier to get out there and do it was that I purchased yard waste pick up from my trash company. So I filled up the bin, plus a couple of bags that will get put in the bin next week. I'll throw whatever's left into the compost pile in the back of my yard. There are a couple of places in town that will accept the leaves for composting for a very small charge.
My leaf duty is almost done for the year. The leaves that are left are contained in my fenced yard and aren't going anywhere, so I can get to those after the craft show this weekend.
Your neighbors must be related to my father - no leaf must be left! I, however, would LOVE to take your leaves, as they are great mulch and most of mine are un-rakeable.
ReplyDeleteIt'd be hard to carry that high standard of leaf removal, IMO. :-)
DeleteIf I remember correctly, you have a strapping young son who should be able to help out! When I lived up north, I heated with wood, and made my boys go out and make firewood with me. We told stories (some true, some made-up) as we did this, and they grumbled constantly. But now that they are grown they still remember those days fondly.
ReplyDeleteHa! Yes, I'm thankful he's getting big enough to carry heavy things and help out with yard work! So true on the grumbling part, but I am usually undeterred by it. He's a good helper.
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