Page 26 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II & III • November 4, 2009 Home Improvement (ARA) As Mother Nature adorns the trees in your yard with riotous reds, vibrant yellows and exotic oranges, you can easily get swept up in the romance of the season – until those leaves turn brown, drop from the branches and litter your lawn. Then you start to think of the hours of backbreaking raking work ahead. This autumn, try working with Mother Nature by mulching those leaves instead of raking, bagging, and condemning them to a landfill. Leaf mulching is a time-saving, environmentally friendly way to deal with fallen leaves. Plus, if you live in a community that has cut back on collection services due to the economy, mulching can solve your dilemma of what to do with the leaves littering your lawn. “It doesn’t make sense to rake leaves and bag them, just to have them end up decomposing in a landfill,” said Dr. Phil Dwyer, senior scientist at The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. “Leaf mulching recycles a natural resource and Fall Leaf mulching: A soil-enriching way to deal leaves enriches the soil of your lawn for free.” In fact, turf benefits by receiving more nutrients when you mulch fall leaves back into the lawn instead of raking Paul Banach Construction, LLC Home Remodeling Waldwick • 201-689-0765 • Windows • Doors • Garage Doors • • Finish Carpentry • Crown Moldings, Cabinetry, Walk-In-Closets, etc... • Kitchen & Bathroom Renovations • Take advantage of the Energy Tax Credit in 2009 www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits Speak to your tax advisor to ascertain if you qualify, as these credits will make a project more economical for you! Over 20 yrs. exp. • Senior Citizen Discount • Ref available upon request All work performed by owner • Free Estimates • Paulbanachconstruction.com them, according to a study by Michigan State University turf grass researcher Thom Nikolai and ScottsMiracle-Gro scientists. Recycling fallen leaves saves time and money, adds nutrients to the soil, speeds spring greening and reduces weeds. Here’s how to recycle this fall’s crop of fallen leaves: Remove the grass catcher from your lawn mower. Mow over the leaves on your lawn. Repeat until they are reduced to dime-sized pieces. Mow until you see about half an inch of grass through the mulched leaf layer. Any kind of rotary-action mower will do the job, and all kinds of leaves can be mulched. Throughout the season, you can chop up to 18 inches total of leaf clutter with several passes of the mower. Having a somewhat thick layer of mulched leaves is fine as long as you can still see the green grass blades poking through. As leaf bits settle into the ground, microbes and worms get to work recycling them. Once you have enriched your soil with leaf mulching, don’t forget that fall is the best time to feed and seed your lawn. A few simple steps can help ensure that your lawn will be strong next season and beyond: After mulching, feed your lawn to help build strong, deep roots for a better foundation and a more robust lawn next year. The nitrogen in the fertilizer will help the mulched leaves decompose faster. Be sure to sweep excess fertilizer off hard surfaces like driveways and sidewalks. After feeding, spread seed where needed. To reseed your bare spots, dig up bare areas, mix in compost, sow your seeds and cover with more compost. If the weather is dry, keep the seeded soil moist until new grass begins to grow. Seeding autumn bare spots will thicken the lawn and make it more resistant to future bare spots. Stay on top of commercial building maintenance 10-21-09....Mike....from Janine PaulBanach2x2(10-21-09) 2x2” homeimprovement & decorating The Villadom TIMES is giving you the opportunity to present your quality services and merchandise in a special Fall Home Improvement & Decorating Guide. In The Villadom TIMES, you’ll get the exposure you need in 56,300 homes right in your market area. And, as always, your Villadom TIMES advertising message is conveniently delivered each week by US mail to every residence in the ten affluent Bergen County towns listed below. Publication: Deadline: FALL WEDNESDAY Building Exterior Consultants, L.L.C. “Roofing and Waterproofing Solutions”  Roof Surveys  Waterproofing Surveys  Roof Evaluations  Moisture Surveys  Specification Development  Project Management  Construction Management  Due Diligence Jose A. Godoy Senior Consultant Phone: 954-584-3308 Fax: 954-584-3309 Cell: 954-275-3631 E-Mail: jgodoy@buildingexteriorconsultants.com NOVEMBER 11 NOVEMBER 18 NOVEMBER 25 NOVEMBER 4 NOVEMBER 11 NOVEMBER 18 WEDNESDAY Call The Villadom TIMES today to place your advertisement. 201-652-0744 YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER Web Site: www.buildingexteriorconsultants.com ZONE 1 - Wyckoff, Midland Park, Franklin Lakes ZONE 2 - Ridgewood, Glen Rock ZONE 3 - Ho-Ho-Kus, Allendale, Waldwick, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River ZONE 4 - Ramsey, Mahwah