Leaf Fall, composting and special offer!

I have a huge oak tree and a silver birch, both of which overhang my back garden so at this time of year all I spend my time in the garden doing is picking up leaves then shoving them in the composter. :ywn:
Then last week I found a special offer on a leaf blower on a Facebook page for a business that sells leaf blowers and vacuums (seddondirect). What used to take me a couple of hours now takes only 30 minutes!
For anyone wanting a quicker solution to hand picking leaves at this time of year I would seriously recommend this solution and grab yourselves the discount by finding the company on Facebook - made it cheaper for me!

 

I find a rake perfecty adequate for the garden and a broom for the paths.

 

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Hi, just go out into the garden and walk up and down kicking the leaves, marvellous fun.

Ps
Even better if you have kids to teach and to give a hand (foot).


:gnthb::gnthb::gnthb:

:flag::flag:

 

One big advantage of a vacuum is that it shreds the leaves, they then take up much less space and compost faster. We've a gravel drive with a big tree above it and a large climbing hydrangea beside it and at this time of year I have to rake it every day and I use the vacuum on the pile I've raked every couple of days if the leaves are dry.

 

Amazing how many first posts by new members also include some sales pitch.

I would rather wait till all the leaves have fallen and use a rake to gather them. Put them in the compost bin and use them when they have rotted down.

Why buy some expensive gadget from a source that is only interested in trying to make money out of gardeners, rather than actually contributing something useful to the community.

Not that I am at all cynical of course!!:skp::skp::skp:

Chopper.

 

I've an old Flymo Garden vac. It's that old, I had to buy and fit a new motor to it about five years ago as the other just wore out.
But I find it useful. Every few days at this time of the year I blow all the leaves on the lawn, patio and paths into a corner or onto the side beds in the same direction the wind is blowing (otherwise it's a waste of time!) I then vac up any not on the beds and put them in the green bin. I then blow any I've missed on the lawn onto the borders which now have a nice covering of dead leaves, except round the several areas of cyclamen, which I keep clear.
The leaves will protect the roots of a lot of plants from frost and eventually rot down and help keep the acidity in the soil for the rhodos and azaleas.
I find using the machine almost as therapeutic as the jetwash.

 

I rake the leaves off the lawn but leave them on the flower beds to die down naturally over winter.

I know a lot of people would worry they may kill off plants and cause problems.

but its not a problem I have encountered.

There again I let my plants die down naturally also over winter and dont remove the dead stuff till the spring.

It may look untidy but I am sure it must help protect the plants from the winter eliments.

 

That was my though too ... but I saw the post had already been reported.

"Why buy some expensive gadget from a source that is only interested in trying to make money out of gardeners, rather than actually contributing something useful to the community."

Saves time. Much faster (here) than using a rake. But for a small garden and able bodied gardeners I think its just a gadget! Get the rake out and save on the gym membership!

 

" I even mow the driveway"

Regency stripes up your gravel drive? How posh is that!

 

I do sometimes use my Black and Decker electric lawnraker set on "high" to collect leaves, if I've left it too long between collections. I also used to use it to pick up the masses of cherry blossom that fell from next door's 30ft cherry tree, before it died.

 

No mate, I thought I was the only one ... sorry ... "I though one was the only one"