One of life’s yearly challenges is the seemingly endless removal and disposal of leaves from our lawns. It used to be that we thought nothing of raking them up, filling trash bag after trash bag and hauling them to the curb for trash collection. But in today’s world of diminishing resources, we should look for ways to avoid sending this bulky yard waste to the landfill and instead, save that valuable space for other material.
There are several alternatives for leaf disposal. Not all of these solutions will work for everyone. But with a little thought, we can all do our part to keep the leaves out of the waste stream.
Composting is one option for disposal. Leaves alone are difficult to decompose. But, when mixed with a few grass clippings, composted manure or generous amounts of fertilizer, the leaves will decompose into a wonderful organic matter perfect for the garden. If space is available, the leaves can be stockpiled and left to rot on their own. But, this takes longer than composting.
Another option for leaf disposal is to use the leaves as mulch. Each year, many of us spend our hard earned money buying bags of mulch to spread onto our garden beds. Using fallen leaves is easy and cheap.
The best way to collect the leaves is by using the lawn mower bagging attachment. Collecting the leaves with the mower helps to shred and reduce their bulk. Once collected, the leaves can be spread around the bases of young trees or shrubs, or used to cover areas of bare soil in the flower garden. The leaf layer will provide additional organic matter as they decompose and help conserve moisture and control weeds.
I like to mow the leaves twice, which decreases the bulk even more. First, I mow the lawn without the bagger attachment. Then, on the second pass, I collect the leaves. This produces a finely chopped material that resembles some of the expensive mulching materials. As a mulch layer, leaves break down quickly. Additional materials will need to be applied.
The leaves can also be stockpiled over winter and used the following spring. I fill two large compost bins with shredded leaves and mulch the vegetable garden the following spring. At the end of the season, I simply till them into the soil for added organic matter.
A final option is to incorporate the leaves into the garden this fall. Spread a couple inches over the garden and work into the soil. Mother Nature will do the rest — composting them over the winter.
As you can see, there are many ways to dispose of leaves in the fall without involving the trash collector. Your challenge is to find the best method to fit your needs.