Go Away Leaves, and Take Your Mold With You!

Part of my Thanksgiving holiday was spent tackling a chore that I really don’t like this time of year – raking leaves. I love trees as much as the next tree hugger but after having mulched up and filled over two dozen bags worth of leaves, I dread stiff breezes. The yard will be clean then along comes the wind to spoil it. Aside from the hassle that fall leaves present, they can and do lead to bigger problems when left to lay where they fall. What’s the problem you ask?

After I Raked Away the Leaves, I Got A Surprise. No, It's Not SnowSunday I was raking up an area on the side of the house. I often neglect it simply because it’s a smaller space, but it does tend to fill with maple and oak leaves as well as pine needles. When I was done, it was nearly dark, but I noticed white splotches on the ground. No, it’s not snow. It was entirely too warm for that… Mold!

_Mold spores are all around us, and given the right conditions, mold can quickly turn from spores to actively growing colonies. Fall leaves often present the perfect opportunity for mold growth. The dead leaves provide the perfect cellulose based food source, and when enough of them fall in any area, they form an insulating barrier over the soil. This barrier helps to trap warmth but more importantly moisture, which is critical for mold growth. In this situation, all of the conditions for mold growth are set, oxygen, food, and moisture.

This type of scenario is fairly common during this time of year, regardless of where you live in the U.S. Actively growing mold colonies can create problems for anyone but particularly those who deal with allergies and asthma. The substances produced by mold colonies can range from the benign to the toxic and cause mold allergy symptoms that can include dermatitis, sneezing, runny nose, congestion, red eyes and wheezing. So what can you do?

_Well, the easy approach is stay holed up for the winter and ‘much like the bear do,’ sleep your way through winter. For most of us though, that notion is nothing more than a pleasant fiction. Besides, by the time spring rolls around, you’ll still be dealing with mold. Removing it can be simple enough, provided you have the time and the right tools. Raking up and bagging leaves is the tried and true way to remove much of this problem, but while you’re doing so, there are a couple of things you should do to reduce your exposure to mold. There is a reputable restoration company near you in Twin Falls, ID if ever you need further help.

_I always wear gloves. It’s not because I have delicate hands, but there can be a variety of decaying leaves, pine needles and other debris that can range from being bone dry to gelatinous mush. Second, I always wear a mask. Something as basic as an N95 respirator can effectively block mold spores.

_Even when the weather is dry, there can be, and still often is, mold lurking under the leaves or pine needles. Dust is also a concern under these conditions. I often mulch the leaves into a bagger before dumping them into a refuse bag, and I'm Certain I Could Shake the Rest of the Leaves Out With This! this can create a LOT of dust. Any time I do not wear a mask, my throat and nose will feel ‘funny’ for a while afterwards. It’s some odd mix of dry but congested and feeling like I inhaled sand. I also change my clothes before and after to also help keep from bringing the dust and mold spores inside and spreading them all over the house.

_As far as leaf mold prevention tips go, if you can manage to keep the leaves and pine needles picked up, you will go a long way towards reducing the mold or fungus that can pop up in your yard or garden. Now, if I could only figure out a way to shake the hell out of those trees to get the last of the leaves off…..

_Author: K. Gilmore

One thought on “Go Away Leaves, and Take Your Mold With You!

  1. Alexander Ryu December 4, 2013 / 10:21 am

    Hello Kevin,

    Great post on a sometimes underappreciated health risk.

    I wanted to get in touch regarding a new asthma education game I'm working to develop with a team based in Boston. I'd love to get your feedback on the game. If you wouldn't mind shooting me an email, I'd love to follow up from there.

    Regards,
    Alex

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