Sleepy Hollow Tries "Love 'Em and Leave 'Em"

SLEEPY HOLLOW, N.Y. – The leaf mulching movement is spreading to Sleepy Hollow.

Department of public works General Foreman Richard Gross said the village will now be mulching leaves in place on the ball field and village parks after he learned about the process during a recycling meeting with county officials.

“The idea is it's supposed to add nutrients to the soil, to the grass,” he said during a recent board of trustees meeting.

Irvington is where the “Love 'Em and Leave 'Em” movement began, and they've been spreading the message to nearby municipalities during recent months. “Love 'Em and Leave 'Em” asks that property owners to mulch their leaves into their lawn instead of raking them up and having them carted away.

Leaf mulching saves time and money, Irvington's Green Policy Task Force said because homeowners aren't raking up leaves and municipalities don't have to spend money to have them taken away.

Mulching in place requires a lawn mower, mulching mower or some other tool that will shred the leaves into smaller pieces. The Green Policy Task Force outlines the procedure on its website.

Gross said the recycling meeting showed the impact of the program on Irvington's parks. “Spots where they were never able to grow grass, there was a nice green lawn,” he said. Sleepy Hollow residents aren't required to mulch their leaves unless they want to, Gross said.

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