Pensacola News Journal

For: Saturday, March 17, 2001

By: Daniel E. Mullins

Extension Horticultural Agent

Santa Rosa County

Fallen Leaves are Great Resource for Gardeners

What are we gonna do with all of these leaves? Spring, rather than fall, is the season that several Gulf Coast species of trees shed their leaves. As a result, during March the lawn, sidewalks, driveways, patios and decks must be swept clean.

Homeowners take on this job in different ways. Some do it the standard way, by manually raking leaves into piles, where they are loaded and hauled away. Strong blowers are sometimes used to blow them to other locations or into piles. Others choose to rig the lawn mower up so that it will vacuum and bag excess leaves from the lawn.

Don’t throw them away, or even worse - don’t burn them. Leaves are a valuable resource, finding uses in many phases of gardening.

Mulch

Leaves make good mulch. They can be placed on the soil surface beneath and around shrubs, trees, perennials and annuals. Leaves can also be added to established beds to freshen old mulch layers and to maintain the recommended 2½ to 3 inch depth.

A better leaf mulch can be made by mixing leaves from several different species of trees. This practice alters the texture of the finished product and allows for better penetration of water and air. Leaves of the same size, when used as mulch, tend to mat together and produce a shingling effect that can shed water and allow for less soil gas exchange to the soil.

Compost

Leaves are major ingredients for use in composting. They can be used whole, though decomposition is more rapid if chopped or shredded before being added to the pile.

Composting methods vary. In fact, just about everyone has their own procedure. Your local Extension office can provide basic information for use in constructing and maintaining a compost pile.

Don’t want to bother with a compost pile? Simply find a hidden corner of the yard or garden and pile them up. They will eventually decompose and can then be used as a soil amendment for flower, shrub and vegetable gardens.

Haul and Till Method

There is an even easier method for handling leaves, but it requires an area of the vegetable garden or landscape that is not currently in use. Simply haul the leaves and spread a thick layer over the entire area, then till to mix them with the soil. Soil microbes will help to decompose them, adding organic matter. After several months the area can be used for establishing the desired vegetation.

This method has been called “composting in place.” The advantage is that the leaves are handled only twice – during loading and unloading, instead of the several times that conventional composting requires.

Let Them Lie Where They Fall

Native areas that include an overhead canopy should not be raked, allowing fallen leaves to remain. This provides natural mulch, and this is the way that natural recycling has worked in native plant communities for thousands of years. We can’t improve on that!

Question of the Week: I have seen several small trees that began flowering in early March. They have many small lavender or fuchsia colored blooms. What kind of tree this?

Answer: That can only be the redbud tree. Botanically it is Cercis canadensis and is sometimes known as the Judas tree. It makes a good specimen tree and performs well in borders or forest edges. There are some improved selections that should soon be on the market. Though rare, there is a white flowered variety.