In Upper Arlington, being a Tree City USA for over three decades, it's no secret that the city's foliage is as abundant as the pride of its residents, but with great trees comes the annual deluge of leaf debris demanding attention each fall.
Given this leafy predicament, the city's Public Works crews get down to the gritty work from mid/late October through early December, shuffling through the streets to gather nature's litter, in this initiative, there's more than one way to skin a fall's worth of leaves to ensure that the gold and amber by-product isn't just piling up, according to the City of Upper Arlington's official website.
First, there’s mulching, touted as a swift and easy method of leaf disposal; all it takes is a lawn mower to chop those leaves down to size, snugly sprinkling them back through the grass to decompose and nourish the soil beneath, in fact, it's recommended to hit the lawn weekly during this period to prevent that daunting leaf pile-up—make it harder for us to mulch.
Beyond that, letting leaves lie can be more than just a passive approach; when mulched and nestled in landscaped beds, they act as a toasty blanket for plants and a buffet for beneficial insects and other critters, and for those ready to commit to the long game, turning leaves into compost is a definite green thumb's delight, providing that coveted "garden gold" to enrich the landscape come spring, and yes, shredding them first can definitely help speed up the decomposition, then add 'em to your compost heap or sit them in plastic bags, keep 'em moist, and let patience do its thing, you'll thank yourself later when your garden's thriving.
The City of Upper Arlington considers these alternatives a win-win: they're budget-friendly and kind to Mother Nature, while also keeping those hard-working city crews from being buried alive by an avalanche of leaves come fall—or at least that's the vibe you get reading between the lines on the City's leaf collection advisory.
