Leaves are a valuable commodity for gardeners. Following are ways and benefits of using leaves, whether or not you have a garden.
1. Having a shredder, mulching mower or just a regular mower is the first step.
2. Leaves may be saved in piles, or bags without shredding and will eventually decompose over a few years, but are not recommended to use on gardens as is, as they will matt down and may suffocate plants.
3. For those with no gardens just lawns, regular mowing with mulching mowers will help nourish your lawn, resulting in less need for fertilizing.
4. In the fall shredded leaves may be placed on your gardens up to 6” deep and reapplied again in the spring after the plants have emerged. This gives them winter protection and nourishes the soil as it decomposes, keeps down weeds, and helps with water retention during summer droughts. It also helps loosen clay soils and helps make sandy soils less porous.
5. If you have no bins, make leaf mold. Leaves, preferably shredded, may be piled, kept moistened and turned when you see steam rising from the pile. By next spring you should have some great partially decomposed material for your gardens.
6. If you have no mulching mower, shredder or compost bin, you may blow your leaves while mowing, directly on to your beds. Grass clipping that are picked up in the process will help nurture your garden. Do not do this if you use chemical pest or disease control on your lawns. You may also shred the leaves directly on the lawn and then rake and bag them for future use.
7. Shredded leaves may be used in your compost (four to six inches) alternating them with chopped garden waste or kitchen scraps (no meat or dairy). Always remember to moisten the leaves in your bin to speed up the composting process. If your bins are full and/or you plan to start new bins next year, shredded leaves may be stored in bags overwinter, ready for next year.
8. If planning on starting a new garden, prepare the site this fall without digging. Mark off the area, then place down thick layers of Newspaper or old paper leaf bags, water them down, then cover with six to eight inches of leaves. Top up with two to four inches of soil to help them decompose and also prevent leaves from blowing away. By spring the bed should be ready for planting.
9. Using your leaves this way will help your environment by using less fertilizer (chemicals), conserving water and freeing up valuable municipal time and energy.
Julia Kron is a member of the Fergus and District Horticultural Society and a Guelph-Wellington County Master Gardener.
