I have read multiple times on the benefit of mulching your leaves. As a result, I could go over my yard in both directions and mulch the leaves to dime sized bits. Nonetheless, I have never been a fan of mulching as I am always afraid I will end up spreading some invasive grass (i.e. POA, bent, etc). Anyway, I just got my Soil Test back from John Deere which indicated I have a sandy loam. Therefore, I believe I really need to start adding organic matter to my yard (i.e. mulching my leaves). Since I have already put down an application of Dimension, I would anticipate that this would protect me from spreading invasive grass? Is this correct? In addition, I have also thought about having compost delivered from my Municipal Utility but I have read about the concerns of the compost having weed seeds, etc.? Thanks.

Since I have already put down an application of Dimension, I would anticipate that this would protect me from spreading invasive grass? Is this correct?

No. Poa Trivialis spreads by stolons and not seeds. Mulch-mow it and it spreads. It's bad enough that I have a separate mower for the back-yard (which has PT) to keep it out of the front yard. If you have PT, bag the cuttings and fully compost it. Fully.

It's basically the same story for anything that you import that you aren't SURE is fully composted. Compost it again. Make sure that you get the compost into the 140's (temperature) to kill all imported seeds.

Andy,

Thanks for the response. Any other recommendations for adding Organic Matter to the soil?

Cracked corn, soy bean meal, Milorganite. All are available at feed stores. Those have been my heavy hitters...that and 4500 lbs of LeafGro

Any other recommendations for adding Organic Matter to the soil?

Yeah - be creative! Think about businesses in your area that are generating OM as a by-product of what they do. Talk to them. I now know of two people that are using or preparing to use the OM generated by a brewery! Think - everything helps.

Guys - Thanks for the advice.

Guys - One more quick question. If I decide to use corn meal, do I need to change my normal fertilizer schedule? I currently use LESCO Products and feed the lawn 5x per year (~4lbs on Nitrogen). Thanks again.

Only thing I'd recommend is to use corn meal by mid Oct. It takes some time to break down (dependant on soil temps due to microbe activity). Of course with corn meal, it's fine enough that you shouldn't see it on the lawn if it doesn't decompose quickly. Organics typically take 3 weeks or so to convert the protein to nitrogen that the turf can use. Therefore, you could drop your Lesco product and corn meal at the same time, but the turf would see it as dropping 3 weeks apart. I like corn apps for the fungus pre-emptive properties. While I have no problem dropping in the fall, I like to use corn in the spring. It's hard to drop too much organic ferts. I've dropped 890 lb/1000 so far this year.

+1 GWG. You can mix organics and synthetics--a hybrid approach--with no problems. I presently have Mom ditching starter fertilizer and soybean meal.

Corn meal breaks down pretty well, so mid-October is a pretty good stop date. Cracked corn, on the other hand, does not break down that quickly. Last year, I cut that off on September 15th to give it time to disappear.

Post mid-October, I rely on Milorganite. It seems to break down better a little colder, and even if it doesn't you don't see it on the soil (it's black).

When you mulch in the leaves, do you use a special kind of blade? I saw the gator blade and it look different from the others.

Does anyone make a blade for leaf mulching?

Don't overthink it. After all, its Chopped Leaves. Any mulching blade works fine - SPEED is the secret. S-L-O-W. It will look like big parsley flakes when you get it right.

+1 Andy. My grand plan with leaves is to crank up the mower and go back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. When they filter down into the grass, I'm done.

When I bag, the leaves are not chopped up much. Some look pretty much whole. I was thinking a 3/1 blade might do a better job.

When you bag, the mulching plate isn't on. Once the plate is in place, the leaves will be recirculated under the deck and will be chopped more.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

^ yea.

I've also heard these work well from many members

gator mulching blades




really need to get me one of those