Let the Leaves Be Next Year's Compost

By now, most of the dead leaves have fallen from their trees. The dead leaves cover your lawn, landscape, clog drains, and make for slippery walking, biking, and driving conditions. Instinctually, you might want to rake and bag or burn the fallen leaves. Don’t do this! Instead, harshness the leaves’ mineral-rich, organic properties through decomposition and use the compost on next spring’s garden. Even during cold weather, the decomposing leaves will provide carbon and nutrients to the soil bacteria.

Get those dead leaves out of the street gutters. This will prevent them from entering the storm water where they can clog the system. Additionally, excess leaves in the storm water harms water quality for aquatic live. Instead of harming the environment improve the environment by using instead of losing fallen fall leaves.

There are several ways to contain and compost fallen dead leaves.

1. Use a mulching mower – By mulching and leaving the dead leaves in place to decompose will add nutrients to the grass. Use mulched leaves at the base of shrubs in order to protect roots from severe cold weather.

2. Shred the leaves – If you don’t have a landscape shredder, you can shred leaves with a string trimmer. Simply place the leaves in an empty garbage can and use string trimmer to chop the leaves. Use the chopped leaves as mulch to protect overwintering crops or add to soil for enrichment.

3. Rake & Compost – Add dead leaves to compost pile along with food scraps to make a nutrient-rich soil condition. 

4. Store - Don’t have a compost pile? No problem! Create a circle out of wire fencing much like a tomato cage. Add dead leaves to wire circle. Water. Leave to compost. In the spring, you’ll have rich, organic soil amendment.

Did you know leaves contain over 50% of the extracted nutrients from the soil.

Note: You can leave the fallen leaves in place. They will decompose and add nutrients back into the soil and will nurture the tree.

 This year turn your dread into delight by utilizing the dead fallen leaves as a soil amendment. Rake, shred, mulch, and compost those pesky fall leaves into a splendid spring supplement for your soil.