How to Recycle Leaves as Excellent Compost and Garden Mulch

Here at Gertens, we have some advice on how to recycle leaves as excellent compost and garden mulch.

There are many ways to take care of those leaves!

Leaves are rich in minerals and organic matter, and throwing them away year after year will gradually deplete these things in your soil. What follows are four ways to recycle your leaves and make rich compost that you can return to your yard and garden.

1. Rake up the leaves and stockpile them next to your compost pile. Next season mix them with grass clippings, other yard and household vegetable waste and you will soon have an excellent compost.

2. If you don’t have a compost pile, you can create a simple one with a circle of wire fencing; or, you can put the leaves into bags, punch a few holes in the top of each bag, water well and leave the bags to decompose. Either way, they will create a rich leaf mold which is an excellent soil amendment.

3. Shred the leaves by mowing over them then use directly in garden as mulch and a way to protect plants over the winter.

4. Mow the lawn without the bag attachment. These chopped up leaves will fall back into the grass and decompose. If there are extras, put them into the garden as in.

 

If you don't have the space, time, or desire to recycle your own leaves, bring 'em on over to our Eagan R.E.S. Yard or our Brickyard at the Main Store, and we will do the recycling for you!