The Autumn Leaves
Wham, bam, thank you Ma’am. That’s what our leaves did this fall. They stayed green forever, then quickly changed colors and then said, “Okay, guys. It’s time to fall.” And they did. Nearly everyone at the same time,
Leaves march to their own drummers. Some years they will be vibrant and some years not so much. Some years they fall here and there over a period of time and some years – like this year – they all bail out at the same time.
Yesterday, I mowed my yard full of leaves. I have found this to be infinitely easier than raking, and it’s great for your grass. The ground up leaves are a rich source of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and more. And as good as leaves are for your lawn, they are even better for your garden.
The old Farmer’s Almanac says that leaves make an excellent protective mulch for vegetable crops, blueberries (and other berries), and ornamental shrubs. They not only suppress weeds and help retain soil moisture, but because they contain no weed seeds themselves, they won’t encourage the spread of new weeds.
In fact, the leaves of one large tree can be worth as much as $50 worth of plant food and humus. Pound for pound, leaves contain twice the mineral content of manure. The huge amount of organic matter they offer can be used to improve soil structure.
Other benefits?
Leaf humus can lighten heavy clay soils.
They feed earthworms and beneficial microbes.
Leaves increase the moisture retention of dry, sandy soils.
They make an attractive mulch in the flower garden.
They are a fabulous source of carbon to balance the nitrogen in your compost pile.
They insulate tender plants from cold.
No organic gardener should pass up this annual opportunity to recycle leaves for both lawn and garden.