Leave Those Leaves, Please!

Raking leaves may have become synonomous with the change in seasons each fall, but did you know that tons of leaves get buried in landfills each year, creating methane and adding to climate change? Additionally, leaves provide essential camoflouge and sustenance for wildlife survival, and leaves can help to enrich the soil, too.

Last year, we tried a radical experiment! We didn’t throw away ANY of our fall leaves! Instead, we recycled them into mulch, which we then spread about 3” deep around the plants in our yard. ALL of our plants survived last year’s extreme winter and summer temperatures and we did not spend a single cent on pine bark mulch!

Assuming that none of the tree leaves have been treated with herbicides or pesticides, live oak leaves can be mixed/shredded with other “softer” tree leaf varieties like red oaks, to create mulch. For more information, check out blog.nwf.org/2023/10/pro-tips-for-leaving-the-leaves/.