Leaf Mulch and Compost
The most wonderful season has finally returned- Fall! If you read our previous article on what to do with your fallen leaves, then you already know about the many benefits of mulching them in place! To recap- instead of bagging your leaves and tossing them in the trash, shred them with your lawnmower to:
- Fertilize your lawn.
- Improve soil quality.
- Suppress weeds.
- Prevent topsoil erosion.
- Provide habitat and food to micro-organisms, pollinators, and other small critters over winter.
Let’s say you’ve mulched as many leaves as you could into the lawn, but you still have more… now what? Use your leaves (shredded or whole) as an ingredient in your compost pile! Composting is a simple way to recycle household/kitchen/yard waste into a nutrient-rich and biologically stable soil amendment. The four main ingredients to a compost pile are: carbon-rich materials (i.e. your leaves), nitrogen-rich materials (like grass clippings, coffee grounds, tea bags, and fruit/veg scraps), water, and air. The goal is to maintain a 30:1 ratio of Carbon and Nitrogen. In other words, you’ll need a lot of leaves to mix in with your household scraps.
Fall is a great time with great weather to be had and we like to spend our precious time enjoying it. So when your yard is full of leaves and you reach for the rake, leave it be! Grab a mower instead, cut the grass and leaves, and leave it be!
Additional Resources
PennState Extension- Composting Leaves Guide
Article provided by the Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District. To learn more about Warren County SWCD visit their website at https://www.warrenswcd.com/.
