Gathered leaves before HOA landscapers come

I just scalped my whole yard to install natives. I’m in Central Alabama so I was just left with a hard layer of clay once all was said and done.

We gathered up some of the leaves from my neighborhood before landscapers come to use in my back yard.

We mixed some top soil, compost, and mulch into the clay first. Then I put down the leaves and a light layer of straw to keep things from blowing around. So the soil could use a little help. I will put a light layer of pine straw on top so it so it doesn’t blow around. My hope is that this will provide an hospitable environmental for bugs and decay to enrich the soil.

I love the bright orange color it gives. It also makes the yard feel less “new” and overly groomed if that makes sense. I like it. Hopefully this is a good idea 🙂