Turn Fall Leaves into Nutrient-Rich Compost

Reader Contribution by Micki Brown
article image
by Adobe Stock/Shi

Using fallen leaves in mulch or in your compost can benefit your landscape and garden. Learn composting tips and all about composting leaves.

Autumn is finally here, and soon it will be bringing much cooler temperatures (much appreciated after a long toasty summer) and plenty of falling leaves. If you happen to have trees, such as Chinese Pistache, Liquidambar, Ash, Crape Myrtle and many others that grow well in the high desert, you’ll have the added bonus of spectacular fall colors before the leaves drop to the ground. When the leaves do finally drop, think about recycling them into mulch or compost rather than putting them in the trash.

Leaves can be a great benefit to gardens and landscapes, because they hold a number of nutrients that can be released back into the soil for plant use, thus reducing the need for added fertilizers. According to Compost Guide, “The leaves of one large shade tree can be worth as much as $50 of fertilizers and humus. Pound for pound, the leaves of most trees contain twice as many minerals as manure.”

Using the leaves as mulch or compost not only adds the additional nutrients to the soil for use by plants, they also help to keep the soil warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, allow the soil to retain moisture so you don’t have to water as often, and shade the ground and prevent many weeds from growing. If you happen to be using needles from pines (or the leaves from oaks), you can get the added benefit of adding a little acidity to the soil for plantings that struggle with the high desert’s alkaline soil.

Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368