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Managing
Landscape Waste
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Ever since the State of
Illinois banned the disposal of landscape waste in landfills in 1990, residents
and local governments have been challenged with what to do with the leaves,
grass clippings, tree limbs, brush and other materials accumulated during the
care of lawns and gardens. Recycling landscape waste can save landfill space and
can also protect the environment and make wiser use of these natural materials.
You can save yourself a
lot of time ant trouble when mowing if you let the grass clippings lie on the
lawn. You may have heard a few myths about this practice:
It increases thatch-
Not true. According to the University of Illinois, thatch is
actually dead roots; grass blades decompose more quickly and actually add
nutrients and improve the soil.
Leaving clippings
hurts the lawn- Not
true. In fact, one bag of clippings equals almost a quarter pound of
organic nitrogen, something a healthy lawn needs.
To do the best job of
cutting grass, mow when it is dry and don't cut more than one third of the grass
blades at any one mowing. Keep your mower blade sharp. You can use a mulching
lawn mower or purchase a mulching blade for your existing mower, but it's not
necessary if you follow these tips.
If you are a gardener, you may want to collect some of the grass clippings to
use as mulch around plants. The mulch keeps the weeds down, retains moisture and
keeps the soil cooler, which is important in hot weather.
LEAVES
The easiest way to handle
leaves is to mow them into small pieces and let them lie on the lawn. This works
best with smaller leaves of course, and if you do not have too many. If you
still want the satisfying chore of raking leaves into piles, use them as mulch
around your shrubbery or spade them into your garden.
Burning of leaves is not recommended. It is restricted in some municipalities in
Ogle County, and it can be a safety hazard and health irritant. If you feel you
must burn leaves or other landscape waste, please follow these guidelines:
* Follow
local regulations. Ogle County Code
requires a minimum of fifty feet from the materials being burned and the
nearest residence. The burning of landscape waste is allowed only on the
premises on which the waste is generated, when weather conditions will readily
dissipate the smoke, and if it does not create a visibility hazard.
* Never leave the burn-pile unattended.
* Keep it small and have a garden hose within reach.
* Do not burn at night or in high winds.
* Do not burn wet leaves, trash or paper with your leaves.
* Do not burn on asphalt or concrete.
* Be considerate of those around you! Elderly people and people with health
conditions can be threatened or made to feel miserable when you burn leaves.
Don’t burn landscape waste if your neighbors are having a picnic or hanging
laundry out to dry!
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COMPOSTING |
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The best way to manage much
of the landscape waste is by composting it. It uses less energy, causes less
pollution, and doesn't require a lot of work. Compost is organic matter that
is naturally broken down by bacteria, fungi, microorganisms, and insects into
a dark brown, crumbly material (humus) resembling rich topsoil. Compost adds
essential nutrients to soil, loosens heavy clay soils and helps retain soil
moisture.
Compost is produced when yard waste is piled in a heap or in bins constructed
of wood, fencing, or concrete blocks. Garden supply stores, mail order
catalogs or internet merchants offer a variety of specially designed compost
bins. Instructions on how to build a compost bin are available at the Ogle
County Solid Waste Management Department, or other related resources are
available at Books about Composting.
Proper composting requires adequate water and air which can be achieved by
turning the pile regularly. It can take anywhere from six weeks to a year to
make compost from yard waste. The process can be speeded up by frequent
turning, maintaining a proper carbon to nitrogen ratio, and shredding leaves
and garden waste into smaller pieces.
The following links offer excellent information and instructions on
composting:
University
of Illinois
Envirocare
of America
Composting
Guide
Compost Notes
Composting Council of Canada - A composting
information resource
Composting Glossary
Cornell
Composting
Earthworms
Master Composter
Recycling kitchen waste using a home
worm bin
Rodale Institute (Soil and related topics)
Soil
Health Menu
The Compost Resource Page
Urban Agriculture Notes: Information on
home composting
Worm
& Compost Bins
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