Colorado Springs issues leaf alert

Raking leaves into curbs in streets in Colorado Springs doesn’t just cause trouble for city workers, it’s also against the law.

Jeff Besse, the city’s storm water quality coordinator, said the city code allows for a fine of up to $50 for anyone who rakes leaves from their yard into the curb.

Besse said those leaves can clog storm drains and cause flooding.

“We’ve never fined anyone,” he said. “We give a warning and try to educate people. But I don’t know if it has gotten any better.”

Besse said street sweepers are busy every fall in neighborhoods with heavy leaf deposits, trying to keep other leaves out of drainage systems.

“There’s definitely a possibility that there’s more growth this year from all the precipitation,” he said. “Leaves are a problem every year, regardless.”

Besse said once leaves enter creeks and streams, they release nutrients into the water which cause algae and is harmful to aquatic life.

The city, Besse said, also recommends that people don’t place their leaves into trash bags.

“Then they just sit and take up space in landfills,” he said. “We prefer that people compost or mulch their leaves to fertilize the soil in their yard or garden.”

Susan Spencer of Spencer’s Lawn & Garden in Colorado Springs, said moisture and heat will break down leaves during winter if they are place in a confined area, or in a compost bin.

“You just need to turn them over occasionally and allow them to dry out,” she said. “Then spray them with a chemical that kills insects and diseases, mix them with (prepackaged) mulch and it’s ready.”

However, homeowner Bill Simpson isn’t convinced that composting works in Colorado’s dry climate.

“I tried it before and I couldn’t get my leaves to compost well,” he said.

Spencer said you can simply water your leaves if they don’t get enough moisture during winter.