PILES OF USES FOR LEAVES
Wednesday, October 6th, 2010 -- 11:24 AM
The leaves are falling fast.They?re nice to look at and can really come in handy.
"They can be composting them, and they can also be used for mulch," explains Brad Wolbert, a hydrogeologist with the Wisconsin DNR.
Experts say the key to good compost is a mix of ?browns??things like dried leaves, dead plants and coffee grounds?and ?greens??things like grass clippings, green plants and vegetable scraps.
Some semi-interested gardeners may fear composting to be a lot of work. Not true.
"I've seen several approaches. Wood frame with chicken wire. Another common thing is to buy one of these tub composters," he says. "You turn it around with a pitchfork a little bit, and it turns into compost rather quickly."
Compost needs fresh air and water to help microbes break the material down and prevent odors.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.