Official advises reuse of leaves as lawn fertilizer
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK - The Township Environmental Commission is asking residents to put the brakes on their rakes during the autumn season.

Removing fallen leaves and clearing dead vegetation deprives many species of food and habitats, according to Mark Hommer, the chairman of the commission. He said that natural nutrients that could improve soil are instead wasted, so some dead plants, especially those with seed heads, and dried stalks, leaves and seed pods, should be left alone to provide food and shelter during the winter.

Instead of raking and bagging up leaves, Hommer suggested turning them into mulching material for planted beds. He said organic matter helps insulate the soil, preventing it from freezing and then thawing, which leads to soil and root damage. Mulch also prevents erosion and enhances the soil's ability to retain water and nutrients, while becoming a food source for microorganisms within the soil.

"It's just the smart thing to do," Hommer said. "Every year more than 28 million tons of leaves and lawn clippings are trucked to U.S. landfills, where they consume enormous amounts of space and produce methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming."

Hommer said leaf mulch can be made by using a leaf shredder or by running over piles of leaves with a lawn mover, and can include pine needles and recycled evergreens. The mulch should be laid down in early winter after the soil has cooled but is not frozen. An inch or two of space should be left in between the mulch and tree trunks and shrubs to avoid fungus and insect problems.

Another solution is leaf composting, a process that produces a rich, crumbly organic material that can be used to naturally feed the soil, Hommer said. Leaves and yard clippings should be left in a large heap at

least 4 feet wide and 3 feet high and should be rotated periodically to keep it moist. It can be mixed with regular garden soil or spread over the tops of lawns and planted beds.

Hommer said composting is a "naturefriendly alternative" to artificial fertilizers. He said New Jersey homeowners spent over $120 million in 2001 for lawn fertilizers alone, according to a Rutgers University survey. Fertilizers can harm the environment through water contamination and ecosystem runoff.

The Environmental Commission is an all-volunteer board that meets monthly. The schedule and agendas are posted on www.NorthBrunswickOnline.com.

For more information, call Hommer at (973) 713-4539.