Leaf Mulch - Sustainable Fertilizer

 

      Autumn leaves, a rich amendment, drift into our yards yearly. Although they must be moved from where they fall to our garden beds, their abundance is welcome because they create sustainable mulch.

     Whole leaves can be raked out of perennial gardens onto old sheets; tossed over the shoulder (Santa style); and spread one foot high between the perennial border and the woods. They effectively keep weeds from invading the garden from the rear during the following growing season, and make a smooth visual transition to the woods beyond.  Because the energy used is "human power", this is an extremely sustainable process.

 

     Creating a mulch that breaks down more quickly—important in the vegetable and perennial gardens—is achieved by gathering leaves with a bagging mower (we borrow a neighbor's) and emptying the bags into a tarp-lined trailer. 

    The collected mulched leaves and grass clippings can be piled high and turned regularly before freezing and again throughout the spring.  This composting creates an excellent mulch for vegetable and perennial gardens. The mower and additional tractor that trailers the leaves both require fuel, so this process is not as energy neutral.  It does however, use less energy than blowing leaves and having them removed from the property.  Because leaf mulch is a "local resource" requiring no transportation to bring it to your property, it is more sustainable than purchasing other mulches.

     This shredded leaf mulch can be used immediately to cover the Fall planted alliums (garlic and shallots) and to protect roses from winter freezing.  In the spring, when composted, it can be used as a mulch in the vegetable and perennial gardens to: conserve water, deter weeds, and add organic matter. Cornell University's Simple Guide to Leaf Composting suggests,  "Composting leaves is an environmentally friendly way to recycle your garden waste into an organic soil amendment and conditioner."

     If you have no need for leaf mulch in your gardens, it makes sense to mulch the leaves in place and allow them to fertilize the lawn. A Bedford based organization, Leave Leaves Alone, offers information for homeowners and landscapers interested in sustainable leaf mulching.

     Autumn brings about an end to one gardening season as we prepare for the next, utilizing this free local resource.