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Use your leaves in the garden. Fallen leaves are rich in organic matter According to Texas A&M University, “they contain 50 to 80 percent of the nutrients a plant extracts from the soil and air during the season.”
Three ways to use leaves:
- Mulching. Shredded leaves will decompose faster, but it’s not necessary. Fall mulching insulates to keep the soil temperature from fluctuating during the frost months.
- Soil Improvement. Work a layer of leaves into compacted soil this Fall to improve the drainage and aeration by Spring.
- Compost. Add them to your compost and add your compost to beds and containers this next planting season.