Out of convenience, I've wanted to mulch leaves (mostly Maple) into my
lawn with a mulching mower. However, I've heard this might change the
soil pH and end up killing the grass. Is mulching safe or is raking the
way to go?

Chris

What is your soil pH now?

Chris,

I don't believe your lawn will be harmed. Most lawn grass is pretty
resilient. The best thing to do is rake the leaves because your lawn
probably does not need the leaf mulch.

You could use the leaf mulch for other plantings, though.

Sincerely,

Bob
http://www.sunnygardens.com

On your lawn mower keep you grass catcher on the back. I never rake
leaves, I always mow them up. It is also better for your compost if
the leaves are cut up smaller. So, mow your lawn with the leaves on
the grass, then empty them into your compost bin (you do have one don't
you--everyone should.)

Bye for nowKit

Chris Spencer wrote:
Out of convenience, I've wanted to mulch leaves (mostly Maple) into my
lawn with a mulching mower. However, I've heard this might change the
soil pH and end up killing the grass. Is mulching safe or is raking the
way to go?

Chris

Clean up the leaves, they will smother your lawn.

(don't be lazy)

--
http://NewsReader.Com/

There's usually no problem mulching leaves or other plant material. As long
as its mulched fine enough to breakdown quickly. Avoid mulching during wet
or damp conditions.

Most grasses are resilient to PH changes.

If its a problem for you, rake all the leave in one section of the yard.
Dump the leaves in another and mulch that entire area. See the results next
spring. Then get back with us on the humbug someone told you.

--
Jonny
"Chris Spencer" wrote in message
news:wEokf.1422$xg1.802@trnddc03...
Out of convenience, I've wanted to mulch leaves (mostly Maple) into my
lawn with a mulching mower. However, I've heard this might change the
soil pH and end up killing the grass. Is mulching safe or is raking the
way to go?

Chris

I routinely mow up as many leaves as possible with my mulching mower
instead of removing them by other means. Never had a problem. I check
soil PH every few years and haven't seen any diff either. Mulching
them that way is conveneient and beneficial to the soil and lawn, as
long as you don't mulch too much at one time.

wrote:
I routinely mow up as many leaves as possible with my mulching mower
instead of removing them by other means. Never had a problem. I check
soil PH every few years and haven't seen any diff either. Mulching
them that way is conveneient and beneficial to the soil and lawn, as
long as you don't mulch too much at one time.

That's all well and good as long as he has kept up with his fallen leaves
so far, but if he hasn't cleaned up his leaves until now (Dec 4) he's
asking for trouble by not doing the required yard clean-up first, if he has
substantial leaves.

--
http://NewsReader.Com/

"Steveo" wrote in message
...
wrote:
I routinely mow up as many leaves as possible with my mulching mower
instead of removing them by other means. Never had a problem. I check
soil PH every few years and haven't seen any diff either. Mulching
them that way is conveneient and beneficial to the soil and lawn, as
long as you don't mulch too much at one time.

That's all well and good as long as he has kept up with his fallen leaves
so far, but if he hasn't cleaned up his leaves until now (Dec 4) he's
asking for trouble by not doing the required yard clean-up first, if he
has
substantial leaves.

--
http://NewsReader.Com/

Then take all the leaves to the burn pit. The remnants from this, the ink
in the burnt paper and cardboard, et al will all mix up and keep some other
type of foliage happy.

Or do a one time this season all leaves mulched at once. The grass will
adjust to the PH change, if it exists. Then readjust as mulching is done
more often.

The leaves will all go someplace and decay someplace. Its better now than
in some plastic bag a thousand years from now in a burial pit for community
trash.
--
Jonny

"Jim" wrote:

Then take all the leaves to the burn pit.

Why kill the ozone layer and loose the valuable resource of good organic
matter, when all you have to do is let them rot to get the best of all
worlds.

--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA
http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman

"Jim" wrote:
There's usually no problem mulching leaves or other plant material. As
long as its mulched fine enough to breakdown quickly. Avoid mulching
during wet or damp conditions.

Most grasses are resilient to PH changes.

If its a problem for you, rake all the leave in one section of the yard.
Dump the leaves in another and mulch that entire area. See the results
next spring. Then get back with us on the humbug someone told you.

Should I rake these up first, or just mulch them in?

http://tinyurl.com/bc96f

--
http://NewsReader.Com/

"Steveo" wrote in message
...

Should I rake these up first, or just mulch them in?

http://tinyurl.com/bc96f



Gee- I would have thought that a University the size of UW would have a
groundskeeping department to make all those difficult decisions for you.


--
Toni
South Florida USA
Zone 10b

"Toni" wrote:
"Steveo" wrote in message
...

Should I rake these up first, or just mulch them in?

http://tinyurl.com/bc96f


Gee- I would have thought that a University the size of UW would have a
groundskeeping department to make all those difficult decisions for you.

Is that your advice?

you can mow them finely, and they will help grass, as long as the spot
gets sunlight. One foot of dried leaves gives you a few millimeters of
leaf mold.

"Jim" wrote in message
link.net...
There's usually no problem mulching leaves or other plant material. As
long
as its mulched fine enough to breakdown quickly. Avoid mulching during
wet
or damp conditions.


That caught my attention. Why avoid mulching while wet ? They break down
quicker when wet. When I used to use a shredder I kept a hose going
continuously on the output. Do you cover your compost pile to keep it dry ?
A dry pile of mulched leaves will take a long time to cook - a wet pile will
produce heat in 48 hours.