Composting, just 1 option for leaves
Those fallen leaves won't rake themselves, and the plight of the over-labored homeowner continues even after their plant matter litter is collected in a pile.
Leaf disposal options in Butler County range from scheduled roadside collection to a leaf-burning free-for-all.
In Butler Township, residents can pay for bags to load with leaves and set by their roadside on trash day. The bags are 34 cents each and are sold at the township's office at 290 S. Duffy Road, according to staff at the office. There is no limit to how many bags can be purchased.
Leaf bags are collected along with garbage on regular trash days during four weeks in the fall. They are the weeks of Oct. 22, Nov. 5, Nov. 12 and Nov. 26.
Many other townships offer significantly less robust options. In Jackson Township, township staff report, there is no leaf collection policy or fire burning policy, though leaf burns should be contained and monitored. In Slippery Rock Township, there similarly are no programs or policies.
Beyond following township and city rules, Butler Township Fire Marshal Christopher Switala said the keys to safe leaf burning are to monitor your fire, burn only small amounts of leaves and to mind the weather.
“The main thing is to be cognizant of weather conditions, particularly the wind,” Switala said. “Don't do it on a high wind day.”
If a problem arises, he said, it's likely because the fire-starter left the burn unattended.
“During this time, we inevitably respond to numerous calls where fires have been unattended and got out of control,” Switala said. “Some have burned structures as a result, including neighbors' structures.”
One should also avoid burning greener plant matter, as the fresher stuff smokes more and can be a nuisance to neighbors.
But don't go thinking flames are the only solution: Master Gardener Mary Reefer sees the fallen leaves as gold for composts bins.
“Western Pennsylvania soil is notoriously clay rich,” Reefer said. “Composting makes a great amendment to that.”
When one sends a sample of their soil in for testing, the nutrients they're hoping to find are all found in leaf mold, Reefer explained. The mold is developed in the composting process.To compost leaves, one ought to shred them first. The common gardener can do so by running over leaves a few times with a law mower, then collecting them with a rake. Whole leaves take significantly longer to break down.A proper compost pile needs a small amount of nitrogen — green material, like grass trimmings and vegetable waste — and a lot of carbon — browner materials. Dry leaves can supply that carbon in spades.Don't want to compost? Shredded leaves can also make a great mulching material.Whatever the garden use, Reefer warned against using leaves infected with fungal diseases.“Fungal spores will last over the winter,” Reefer said. “Most home gardeners don't get their compost piles hot enough to kill those spores.”Oak trees in the area suffered from fungal infections this year, she said, due to the heavy rainfall.Other trees just don't produce good leaves for composting for various reasons. Avoid black walnut, holly and magnolia leaves, Reefer advised.Aside from dealing with leaves, Reefer had a few suggestions for other fall chores around the garden. From now through October is the right time to plant garlic for next year, she said.And soon gardeners ought to make clippings of any plants they want to start indoors for the coming year, as well.
