{"id":9291,"date":"2019-11-10T06:05:16","date_gmt":"2019-11-09T20:05:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardens.theownerbuildernetwork.co\/?p=9291"},"modified":"2023-08-04T14:17:28","modified_gmt":"2023-08-04T04:17:28","slug":"5-smart-ways-to-use-leaves-in-your-garden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theownerbuildernetwork.co\/gardens\/2019\/11\/10\/5-smart-ways-to-use-leaves-in-your-garden\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Smart Ways to Use Leaves in Your Garden"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"5
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We all know what it’s like to spend a fall afternoon clearing the garden of leaves. You stuff them into bags and put the bags out on the curb.  There they sit there until it’s time to send them off to the landfill. Here are five ways to use leaves in your garden to increase productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Using Leaves in Your Garden <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The key to using leaves in your garden is to shred them first. You can do that with a mulching lawnmower or a leaf vacuum mulcher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don’t shred leaves, they will not break down over the winter. You will have to rake them all up to come spring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are five ways to use leaves in your garden to increase productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The key to using leaves in your garden is to shred them first. You can do that with a mulching lawnmower or a leaf vacuum mulcher. (Photo: Linnaea Mallette\/Public Domain Pictures)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. Use Leaves to Amend Your Soil<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mix the shredded leaves right into your garden soil. Leaves are\na rich source of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and trace minerals.\nThe leaves of one large tree can yield as much as $50 worth of plant food and\nhumus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can use the abundant organic matter in leaves to improve\nsoil structure. For instance, leaf humus can lighten heavy clay soils. Leaves\nwill also increase the moisture retention of dry sandy soils. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"You
You can use the abundant organic matter in leaves to improve soil structure.
(Photo: Cocoparisienne\/Pixabay)<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2. Use Leaves for Composting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you are not already composting, now is a good time to start. Rake or blow your leaves into loose piles or enclose them in bins<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to speed up decomposition, mow over the leaves a few times with your lawnmower. You also use a leaf shredder or chipper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mix a shovelful of soil in each layer of leaves. Leaves are high in carbon but low in nitrogen so it helps to add a source of nitrogen like manure or grass clippings. This will feed the bacteria that break down the leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Shredded
Shredded leaves are excellent for composting. (Photo: Dave Bleasdale\/Flickr)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

3. Use Leaves for Mulch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Shredded leaves make excellent mulch<\/a>. “Just blow them into your flowerbeds and under trees and shrubs while mowing,” says Robin Sweetser for the Old Farmer’s Almanac. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also cover the beds in your vegetable garden with a layer of chopped leaves. That will keep the soil from washing away over the winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"You
You can cover the beds in your vegetable garden with a layer of chopped leaves. That will keep the soil from washing away over the winter. (Photo: Forest Wander\/Flickr)<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

4. Enrich Your Soil with Leaves<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Research shows that mowing leaves and leaving them on your\nlawn improves the soil, lessening the need for fertilizer in the spring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers from Michigan State University recommend setting\nyour mower blade three inches high and mowing once a week while the leaves are\nfalling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As long as you don\u2019t have excessive leaf cover, do not be\nconcerned. The mowed leaves feed worms, fungi, and beneficial soil bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Research
Research shows that mowing leaves and leaving them on your lawn improves the soil, lessening the need for fertilizer in the spring. (Photo: Manfred Richter\/Flickr) <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

5. Insulate Tender Plants with Leaves<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A blanket of leaves can protect tender plants from harsh winter weather. Again, of course, shredded leaves are better. Whole leaves tend to mat together and trap moisture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shredded leaves allow a fluffy, air-filled layer over your plants. Cover your carrots, kale, leeks, and beets with a six-inch layer of shredded leaves and you’ll harvest vegetables all winter!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This clever tip comes to us by way of Kathy LaLiberte of the\nSpruce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
A blanket of leaves can protect tender plants from harsh winter weather.
(Photo: Courtesy of Pisqels)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Your Garden’s Secret Ingredient<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Having said all that, we should warn you that not all leaves\nare good for shredding. For instance, black walnut leaves a substance called\njuglone. The substance is toxic to most plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should also avoid shredding leaves from a chemically\ntreated lawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of us regard leaves as little more than trash. In the\nfall, we rake them up, bag them, and send them off to the rubbish pile. Often\nenough, we forget just how much they can help us create a healthier, more\nproductive garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fact is, you don’t need to look far for your garden’s\nsecret ingredient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They literally fall from trees!  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We all know what it’s like to spend a fall afternoon clearing the garden of leaves. But wouldn’t it be simpler – if not better – if we use them to make a more productive garden?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13557,"featured_media":9296,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"%%post_title%% ","_seopress_titles_desc":"Here are five ways to use leaves in your garden to increase productivity.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"Ways to Use Leaves in Your Garden","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sma_last_campaign_date":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19,180,182],"tags":[197,18,179,196,189,81],"class_list":["post-9291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-compost-and-soils","category-gardening-with-nature","category-tips-and-tricks","tag-autumn","tag-compost","tag-eco-friendly-gardening","tag-leaves","tag-organic-mulch","tag-vegetable-gardening"],"modified_by":"Freddie","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theownerbuildernetwork.co\/gardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9291","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theownerbuildernetwork.co\/gardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theownerbuildernetwork.co\/gardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theownerbuildernetwork.co\/gardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13557"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theownerbuildernetwork.co\/gardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9291"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/theownerbuildernetwork.co\/gardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9291\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theownerbuildernetwork.co\/gardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theownerbuildernetwork.co\/gardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theownerbuildernetwork.co\/gardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theownerbuildernetwork.co\/gardens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}