BEND, OR -- The weather is turning colder and leaves are falling … and falling. Cindy Jeffers, with LandSystems Nursery in Bend, says it’s important to rake all those leaves off your lawn while the skies are clear, to keep the grass healthy. "If we get a lot of snow or a lot of rain, it just mats down. And, it’s a great place for little critters to crawl, which we had a lot of last year." But, she tells KBND News, there are other areas where the leaves are helpful, "As far as in the beds or the garden, you can leave them on; it does help insulate plants." And, she says you should feed your lawn before it goes dormant for the season: "Use a winterizing fertilizer; don’t use something that’s real high in nitrogen or fast-release nitrogen. Use something that’s a slow-release so it’ll last all winter and it’ll help keep your lawn green, and it’ll help protect it from the real cold, too."
For more tips and to hear our full conversation with Cindy Jeffers, visit our Podcast Page or click HERE.