Leave the Leaves!

Each fall mother nature provides us with a visual kaleidoscope of colors from deep purples to golden yellows to raging reds.  Unfortunately, this cornucopia of colors does not last.  For many of us it becomes a dreaded chore of raking, blowing, piling, bagging, and hauling leaves.  Save yourself lots of work by turning nature’s gift into a valuable resource for your garden, landscape, and lawn by “leafcycling”.

“Leafcycling” can be defined as mulching, shredding and collecting leaves to improve the eco-system around your home landscape.

Mulching and Shredding:

Rather than removing the leaves from your lawn “mulch in place” by running your mower, preferably a mulching mower, over the leaves when they are dry and brittle.   This finer leaf material will filter into the lawn to provide lasting value.   Benefits include:

• Nutrient recycling.   Leaves trap nutrients and will eventually release them back into the soil. 
• Enriching the organic matter to improve the soil microbial life.  A healthy microbiome can help reduce fungal diseases that often appear in the summer months
• Reducing germination of winter annual and spring weeds
• Improving soil tilth and root health for a thicker deeper lawn that can better withstand drought, disease and insects.
• Conserving moisture and reducing run-off
• Providing a “cushion” to reduce soil compaction
• Establishing a habitat for earthworms, butterfly larvae, pollinators and beneficial insects

If you have a lot of leaves you may have to divide and conquer by periodically mulching as the leaves fall or complete a light raking and mulch the remainder.  Some of the leaves can be diverted by directing the mower discharge chute into a landscape bed or garden.

“Leafcycling” is not just a fall chore.  I personally attempt to mulch any type of trimmings or cuttings from shrubbery, flowers, or vegetable plants directly into my lawn throughout the year or place them into a compost pile.   

Collecting:

If you chose to remove and collect the leaves from the lawn and landscape, the leaves can be used as mulch in garden and landscape beds to conserve moisture and protect the plants’ roots during the winter months.  Or, add them to your compost pile for future use in your garden and landscape.

If you are unable to use the leaves on your own property many municipalities offer collection services or drop-off sites where the leaves are composted for later use by the public.  This certainly is a better option than land-filling. 

“Leafcycling” Advice:

• Take special precautions to avoid wet leaves piling and suffocating the lawn. 
• If a tree has been diagnosed with a leaf disease or if the leaves harbor insect eggs, larvae or adults that will cause damage the following year, it may best to removes these leaves from your lawn and landscape 

This fall enjoy nature’s beauty, reduce your workload and add value to the ecosystem by leaving the leaves!