When the Leaves Fall

As winter approaches, you need to think about protecting the moisture in your lawn and garden. The blanket you need is free–the leaves falling from your trees. Nature provides a simple, convenient mulch you can spade into your garden, mound up around your trees, or shred with your lawn mower to help the dormant grass retain water near its roots.

Judy Elliot, composting guru at Denver Urban Gardens, warns that too thick a leaf cover on your lawn can have bad effects, however. She recommends a light layer of leaves (no more than about an inch deep). "Mow leaves in several directions to break up large pieces, and then rake the residue to more evenly distribute them over the surface. Fall aeration, followed by leaf mulch (mowed leaves) and a sprinkling of compost, will make for happy lawns." Deeper roots access more water.

You can recycle your leaves at home. Dig them into your garden or mulch them into your grass with a lawn mower. Leaves also make good compost that will reduce your need for fertilizers.

Denver Recycle's 2006 Leafdrop Program

If you can't use all your fallen leaves, you can save on landfill space and provide compost for next season by participating in Denver Recycle's Leafdrop program.

Please: Denver Residents Only Leaves must not contain branches or other debris that can damage composting equipment. Drop leaves at collection points only during the dates and times specified.

If you can't reuse your leaves, take them to one of the three city drop-off sites below on a Sunday, October 29, November 5, or November 14, or to alternate sites listed below on weekdays from October 9 through December 4. Your leaves will be recycled into compost.

You can "reclaim" your leaves next spring at the Treecycle Mulch Giveaway and Leafdrop Compost Sale. Call 720.865.6810 after April 1, 2005, for information on spring mulching and compost.

Dropoff Details
Sundays only, 10 am to 4 pm, October 29 - November 12 Northwest Sloan's Lake Park 17th and Sheridan Southwest John F. Kennedy High School Newland St. and Brown Pl. East Central Cranmer Park 3rd and Clermont	Weekday dropoffs, 7 am to 2:30 pm, October 9 - December 4 (except holidays) Denver Solid Waste Transfer Station Quebec and Cherry Creek Dr South. Havana Nursery 10450 Smith Road (S. of I-70 on Havana) Note: Weekday sites are closed on weekends.

For more information, including links to leaf recycling programs in other Front Range communities, visit www.DenverGov.org/DenverRecycles or call 720.865.6810.