Screen legend Audrey Hepburn once said, “To plant a garden is to dream of tomorrow.”
She makes an excellent point. Gardeners are dreamers—and in a thick pile of leaves blanketing the lawn, gardeners see a goldmine that will enrich the soil for next year’s flowers and harvest.
Are you already dreaming of next year’s garden? We are too! So instead of bagging them up for curbside pickup, here are four ways you can transform this fall’s leaves into black gold.
1. Create Leaf Mulch: One of the simplest and most beneficial things to do with fall leaves is to cut them up and use them as mulch to form a protective barrier that insulates the soil, suppresses weeds, and helps soil retain moisture. As the leaves break down, they’ll add organic matter to the soil and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers. Here’s how:
• Shred the Leaves: Shredded leaves decompose faster and are less likely to mat down and form a thick, impenetrable layer. To shred leaves into smaller pieces, you can rent a leaf shredder or pile them up and run them over with a lawn mower a few times.
• Apply to Garden Beds: Spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of the shredded leaves over your garden beds to stop soil erosion and protect your plants from temperature fluctuations all winter long.
2. Compost Leaves into ‘Black Gold’: Autumn leaves make a fantastic addition to your compost pile. They will break down quickly and be transformed into rich, dark compost—often referred to as ‘black gold’ by gardeners—that you can use to amend garden beds and put nutrients back into the soil. Composting leaves is a simple process:
• Balance the Green and Brown: A healthy compost pile needs a mix of 1-part green materials—think kitchen scraps, grass clippings, and coffee grounds—that are rich in nitrogen and 4 parts carbon-rich brown materials. Leaves are considered a ‘brown’ material and can be layered with ‘green’ materials in your compost pile.
• Maintain Moisture: Keep your compost pile moist but not wet—the ideal saturation point is the consistency of a wrung-out sponge. Too much water can lead to a soggy pile that doesn't break down properly, while too little will slow decomposition.
• Turn the Pile: Aerate your compost by turning it regularly. This adds oxygen, which is essential for the microorganisms that break down organic material.
Over time, your pile will decompose into compost that you can mix into your garden beds. Come spring, spread it throughout your garden to give it a boost of nutrients and beneficial microbes.
3. Create Leaf Mold: If compost is black gold, leaf mold is platinum. In addition to providing nutrients for your garden, leaf mold improves soil structure, boosts moisture retention, and creates a welcoming environment for earthworms and other beneficial microorganisms—which all adds up to healthier, more resilient plants. The drawback is that while compost is ready in 3 to 6 months, leaf mold takes 12 to 24 months to break down. But if you’ve got the time, the benefits of leaf mold are definitely worth it. Here’s how to make it:
• Pile the Leaves: Gather your leaves into a large pile in an out-of-the-way corner of your yard or mound them in a simple wire mesh bin.
• Keep Them Moist: Leaf mold requires moisture to break down, so check the pile occasionally and water it if it gets too dry.
• Wait…and wait… and wait: It may take upwards of two years, but eventually you’ll be rewarded with a dark, crumbly material that resembles compost but is lighter and fluffier.
4. Use Whole Leaves as Garden Insulation: If you don’t have time to shred leaves much less to make leaf mold, you can use whole leaves to protect delicate plants over the winter. Simply rake the leaves into your garden and spread them out. The leaves will insulate the soil, protecting perennials and overwintering crops from harsh winter conditions. While whole leaves will provide organic matter for your soil, they most likely won’t fully break down over the winter. Come spring, you’ll either need to till what’s left into the soil or gather them up and dump them into the compost bin.
Protect Your Faucets From Winter’s Chill, Too
Plants aren’t the only thing that need to be protected from wintry weather. After you’ve tended to fallen leaves, give your outdoor faucets a little attention, too. Water that’s trapped in the spigot and pipes can freeze when temperatures drop, leading to burst pipes and expensive repairs. Slip inexpensive faucet protectors over outdoor spigots to give them a layer of insulation from freezing temperatures. Before installing the covers, be sure to disconnect any hoses and drain the faucet to remove residual water. Watch this video for step-by-step directions.
