Autumn leaves are the fall garden gift that keeps on giving. Not only do they dazzle with all their crimson, gold, and saffron splendor, but they also benefit your garden and nurture local fauna. In fact, fall leaves can easily transform into mulch, compost, leaf mold, and more. Here, we share all the creative ways to use autumn leaves after raking them.
Tess Renusch, native plant habitat certifications coordinator at the National Wildlife Federation
Lindsey Chastain, a homesteader, gardener, and founder of The Waddle and Cluck, a website dedicated to food, farming, and sustainable living
Chrissie Handley, a lawn care specialist working for Online Turf
Create a Wildlife Brush Pile
Fallen leaves and tree litter, like dropped branches and twigs, provide crucial habitats for moth, butterfly, and firefly larvae, as well as amphibians like toads, and beetles. Native birds also forage in leaf piles, looking for insects to munch on, so a brush pile will be a great addition to your garden.
Making a brush pile is easy. According to Tess Renusch, native plant habitat certifications coordinator at the National Wildlife Federation, all you need to do is rake a large pile of leaves into a quiet, less-trafficked area of the yard, or under a tree. “Small animals, such as toads, lizards, turtles, and small mammals, will use the pile for shelter and hibernation during the cold months,” she says.
For the best results, start with a simple base of a few small branches or logs to create air pockets and a more durable structure for wildlife to hide in. Renusch says to top the base with leaves and other natural materials, such as pine needles, twigs, and small logs, to create a more diverse habitat.
A brush pile can pose as a fire hazard and may attract small rodents, such as mice and voles, so the best placement is in an area that is a safe distance from your house, says Renusch.
Mulch With Leaves
As fallen leaves break down, they add nutrients to the soil, boosting your garden’s soil health. “Just like other mulches, fallen leaf mulch helps retain moisture and deter pests,” says Lindsey Chastain, a homesteader, gardener, and founder of The Waddle and Cluck. If you spread the leaves around plants in the fall, they also create cozy hiding spots for helpful bugs to overwinter, she says.
Create a leaf mulch layer that is about 3 to 5 inches thick, using leaves from non-diseased, healthy trees. Shred the leaves with a mower or crumple them by hand, so they don’t get matted down. Water the leaves to keep them from blowing away.
Compost With Leaves
You can also save leaves to use in a compost pile or bin. According to Chrissie Handley, a lawn care specialist working for Online Turf, they’re a great addition to your green, nitrogen-rich waste.
“Leaves can help insulate the pile if you add them in dense layers, which helps keep your compost pile insulated,” she says. A warm pile is necessary to ensure the microbes can continue breaking down the pile.
Remember to turn the pile regularly to keep the waste evenly spread. This helps encourage airflow and disperse the temperature throughout. To increase your chances of success, avoid wet leaves. “Wet compost means the decomposition process slows down and the pile tends to have a strong, unpleasant smell to it, which can attract rodents,” Handley says.
Make Leaf Mold
Leaf mold is an excellent free resource for the garden. “It helps improve soil structure, increases the soil’s ability to retain water, and encourages the growth of beneficial microorganisms,” says Renusch.
To make leaf mold, rake leaves into a large pile in an out-of-the-way corner of the yard. “The pile can be contained with chicken wire or a simple frame, but this isn’t necessary,” she adds. Water the pile occasionally during periods of little rainfall and turn it over every few weeks.
Once the leaves break down, you can use them as mulch, a soil amendment, or as a potting soil base. However, Renusch notes that it can take up to three years for the leaves to fully break down into a usable material. But she notes you can use partially decomposed leaves as a mulch in the meantime.
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