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Saturday, October 31, 2015 An Advertising Feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal

Jamie (Hancock) Kidd Garden Column – 4 When to Buy or Sell – 6 Service Directory – 10

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Mulching the leaves in your yard Jamie (Hancock) Kidd

jamiehan@ksu.edu Autumn, a time of brilliant colors (and wind if you live in Kansas), but a leaf by any other color‌is still work. Homeowners, professional grounds managers and golf course superintendents all face the inevitable task of leaf disposal.

If the wind doesn’t successfully blow your leaves into your neighbor’s yard. I

have good news for you; something that will save you time, money, and labor. (Did that money thing get your attention?) Follow along.

Raking, blowing, and/or vacuuming tree leaves is labor intensive and therefore expensive. The Clean Air Act of 1970 put a crimp on burning leaves and more and more landfills have bans on lawn waste.

Leaves left on turf can cause a reduction in photosynthesis. Even thin layers of leaves can trap humidity on the surface of the turf and increase the chance of snow mold during the winter. Turf can be smothered and completely killed by thick layers of leaves. There is no question that something has to be done with the leaves.

Compost piles or compost disposal sites

are an option for your leaves, but this still requires a lot of labor and expense.

The easiest and cheapest way to dispose of leaves is to mulch them into the turf.

Mulching tree leaves saves tremendous amounts of time. One person can mulch leaves on an entire property where it might take a crew of four or five to pick up the leaves. Mulching minimizes expenses for equipment such as large vacuums and specialized trailers or trucks for hauling.

It also eliminates disposal fees at compost sites or landfills. Contractors can offer a leaf management (mulching) program as part of their services.

Long term studies at Michigan State, Cornell, Rutgers and Purdue have concluded that mulching is an excellent disposal

method and it does not harm healthy turf.

In fact, data suggests an increase in waterinfiltration rates, and microbial activity making the soil more healthful. Mulching leaves into turf has no adverse effect on turf visual quality or color, growth, thatch, soil pH or nutrient availability. No incidence of dollar spot and no effect on weed infestation. These results are very positive and suggest that mulching leaves is an economical method of disposal with little risk of decreased turf performance.

Fall leaf mulching does not appreciably increase nitrogen in the soil so an autumn turf fertilization should take place prior to leaf drop.

KIDD continues on 9A

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When to Buy or Sell

By Linda A. Ditch Special to The Capital-Journal

Do you buy a new home before you sell your current one, or vise versa? The nightmare scenario for many homeowners is buying a house before selling the one they currently own, thus leaving them with two mortgages. On the flip side is selling your home before you’ve completed the purchase of another one, creating the need for temporary housing. A REALTOR® can help guide you in the right direction for your circumstance.

Sunflower Association of REALTORS®, Inc. president Marion Hawks said, “REALTORS are in tune with the real estate market and can help a client determine whether or not the time is right to sell and/or purchase a home. Certain steps are taken to help buyers and sellers come to the correct conclusion on if now is a good time.”

Hawks noted the three key ways a REALTOR® can help are: 1. They help determine the value of your current home.

2. They guide clients to a lender to get pre-approved. In some rare cases, a buyer may not be approved for a new loan. Then the lender can educate the buyer in ways to improve their credit so they are able to be pre-approved in the future.

3. Once pre-approved, a price for the new home can be established. Hawks noted, “Just because a buyer is pre-approved for a certain amount doesn’t mean that they are necessarily comfortable with the payment. A REALTOR® can help determine what price point would be appropriate for their comfort zone.”

Before deciding to buy or sell first, consider the current housing market. Is it a seller’s market? Will your home sell quickly, or is the market slow for your type of house? Also what is the market like in your proposed new neighborhood?

If you plan to move into a popular area, say with an in-demand school district, you might consider getting your new home first. Also, will you get enough from the sale of your current home to finance the new one? Your REALTOR® can clue you in on what the market is like in both your current and new areas.

Next, take your financial situation into consideration. Would you be able to carry two mortgages for a period of time?

Do you need the equity from the sale of

Stock Photo/Special to The Capital-Journal

your current house to purchase the new one? Can you pay for temporary housing (or arrange to stay with family or friends) should your home sell before you find a new one?

The final consideration is your comfort level. How secure do you feel financially?

How confident are you in selling your home and buying the new one? How flexible will you be should things not go as expected? Answering these questions, and

talking with your REALTOR®, will help you make the best decision.

Buy First, Then Sell?

There are pros and cons to each side of the buy first-sell first debate. For the buy first and then sell side, consider: Pros  You only have to move one time.  The move is easier and less stressful.  You have the time to make improvements on the old home once it’s empty be-

fore putting it on the market.  You can get the house of your dreams when it becomes available instead of waiting for your current home to sell.  Once you’re out of the current house and into the new one, you don’t have to worry about scheduling showings to potential buyers, which can interrupt your day, and keeping the house clean.

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Homes: Selling first, then buying Continued from 6A Cons  Making two house payments for an unknown amount of time.  Getting approved for the new loan while still paying on the current one.  Double the maintenance, insurance and taxes.  Not knowing how much profit you will make on the sale of your home before buying the new one.  Having one house vacant, which could attract vandals.  Needing to stage the vacant house with furniture to help it sell.  Procrastinated moving, where you lack the motivation to move everything out of the old home and into the new one.

Sell First, Then Buy? If you’re thinking of selling your home first before buying the new one, consider: Pros  More cash is available for the down payment on the new home.  Only one mortgage payment.  Less financial stress on the budget.

Also, you have a better picture of your financial situation overall.  While you will want to set an appealing price on your current home, you won’t feel compelled to slash the sale price so the house sells quickly to avoid financial hardship.

Cons  Scheduling the closing on the current home while also the one on the new home can be tricky. It can be difficult to get everything organized to avoid being “homeless” for a period of time.  You have to rely on the buyer’s financing since the purchase of your new home depends on the buyer being approved to purchase your current home. If something goes wrong with their approval, then it could impact your ability to secure financing.  You may have to rent another home for a while, or stay with friends and relatives.  You might have to move twice.  You may have a shorter window in which to find your new home, limiting the number of houses from which to choose.  Showings of your home will take place while you still live there, which means keeping it clean and adjusting your schedule.  You may loose out on your dream home while waiting for your current home to sell.

Stock Photo/Special to The Capital-Journal

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Kidd: Safety first when mulching Continued from 4A

How to mulch

While mulching mowers are preferred because of special deck and/or blade designs, almost any rotary mower will work.

Safety first

 Wear safety goggles and a mask to protect from debris and dust.  Do not use a rotary mower as a stump grinder or chipper/shredder.

 Remove sticks and limbs and trash before mulching (they dull the mower blades and can become projectiles).

Procedures

 Sharpen the mower blades. This reduces the wear on the mower. A professional can help.  Leave the mower set at the same height as you have been mowing the turf.  Mulch the leaves when they are dry.

It’s much easier and causes less wear on the mower. DO NOT mulch wet or soggy leaves.

 Slow movement with the mower will grind the leaves finer. It may take up to 3 or 4 passes to grind the leaves fine enough.  Don’t try to mulch too many leaves at once. It can damage your mower, injure you, or create mulch with less-than-optimal sized particles.  Inspect and clean your air filter.

Pulverized leaves will settle into the turf within a day or two, particularly if followed by rain. Take care that the pulverized leaves do not cover the grass blades entirely. It is best if the leaves are

“mowed” regularly, not allowing them to lie on the turf more than 3 or 4 days.

Saving time and money without harming turf makes leaf mulching a winning idea.

P.S. Leaves make great mulch for your gardens also.

Jamie Kidd is a horticulturist with Kansas State Research and Extension in Shawnee County.

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Service Directory

Service Directory

Boost your brand, product or service with an ad in the service directory! At Home Living is read by home owners, buyers and sellers across the Topeka and surrounding area. To place your ad contact your MultiMedia Sales Consultant or 785.295.1125.

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