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in Fall· Garden· Tips and Tutorials

How Your Fallen Autumn Leaves Can Benefit Your Garden Beds

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Did you know that there’s another way to clean up all those autumn leaves piled throughout the yard? I’ll share how you can not only clean up those fallen leaves but use them as mulch that will benefit your garden.

fall tree

I love so many things about the autumn season…pumpkin spice lattes, sitting in front of the fire, enjoying my favorite fall candle scent.

What I don’t like is having to rake the piles of fallen leaves OVER and OVER again and dispose of them.

But now I don’t have to! Mowing fallen leaves to make an organic mulch benefits your garden, which will be so happy the next growing season. You can mulch your flower beds, vegetable and flower gardens, containers, and around trees and shrubs.


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Fallen Leaves benefit the garden

The Benefits of Using Fallen Leaves or “Leaf Litter”

  • Retains moisture in the soil
  • Suppresses weeds
  • Protects your plants by buffering the soil temperature
  • Improves soil fertility as it decomposes, which reduces the need for fertilizing
  • Helps to reduce soil erosion
  • Provides nutrients as the leaves decompose.
  • A natural habitat for overwintering critters and pollinators.

Fallen Leaves benefit the garden, lawnmower

Creating Organic Mulch

Mowing the Fallen Leaves

A couple of rules of thumb:

  • The leaves will break down more quickly and shred easier if they are dry.
  • Shredding the leaves as small as possible will help them break down much quicker.
Mowing leaves into mulch

Mow the fallen leaves with a mulching lawnmower, which is designed to recirculate the grass clippings so they are cut into small pieces.

Most lawnmowers have the mulching capability, but if you have an older mower, it can be converted to a mulcher by installing a mulching blade.

fall orange leaves on the ground

Using Leaves After the Season

Leaves that are moist and have developed into leaf mold after the season can also be used, as they are most likely partially decomposed and can be worked into the soil.

Fallen Leaves benefit the garden

Working the Mulch Into the Garden Beds

Apply a 3- to 4-inch layer of shredded leaves around shrubs and trees, keeping the mulch from directly touching the stems and trunks of the plants. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch to your garden beds,

Fallen Leaves benefit the garden

After reading about how fallen leaves will benefit the garden, I hope you are ready to use them as mulch. I’ve put together more tips on getting your garden ready for winter, including when to divide your perennials.

Please leave me a comment with any questions you have about your fall garden. I look forward to hearing from you.

Until next time,

Happy Gardening!


If you’ve enjoyed this blog post, please pin and share this on Pinterest.

More Fall Gardening Tips You May Enjoy...

7 Fall Perennials That Will Give Your Cottage Garden the Wow Factor

9 Fall Plants That are Perfect For Container Gardens

Pacific Northwest Fall Garden Tour

5 Tablescapes for the Fall Season Using Natural Elements

How to Prepare Your Garden for the Winter Season - Fall Task List

7 Tips For a Fabulous Flower Garden When Transitioning to Fall


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Filed Under: Fall, Garden, Tips and Tutorials Tagged With: making organic mulch fro fallen leaves, using fallen leaves as mulch, why your garden loves fallen leaves

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Georgie says

    10/10/2022 at 7:58 pm

    Love your post of the leaves they are so colorful. I live in the coast area of Texas and they are not that colorful but still don’t mind them. Enjoying your post they are so pretty.

    Reply
  2. Ann says

    10/21/2021 at 3:02 pm

    Love this post Kim. I’m going to,share it on my Vermont Foliage home tour coming up🍂🍂

    Reply
    • Kim says

      10/25/2021 at 1:01 pm

      Thank you, Ann! You have a lot of leaves in your yard I’m sure!

      Reply
  3. stacy says

    10/19/2021 at 3:41 am

    Great tips on leaf mulch Kim! Thanks for sharing! xo

    Reply
    • Kim says

      10/25/2021 at 1:02 pm

      Thank you, Stacy! I love how great it works to keep the dahlias snug as a bug during the winter months.

      Reply
  4. Rebecca Payne says

    10/17/2021 at 7:28 am

    Great tips and beautiful photo’s.

    Reply
    • Kim says

      10/25/2021 at 1:03 pm

      You are so sweet Rebecca, thank you!

      Reply
  5. Chas - Chas' Crazy Creations says

    10/17/2021 at 7:22 am

    Wow Kim, this is so timely! I just tore down my strawbales and since we have so many leaves, I might just add some of these to all of my gardens. Thank you so much!!!

    Reply
    • Kim says

      10/25/2021 at 1:04 pm

      Oh good Chas! I know it will really help your garden.

      Reply
  6. Rachel Harper says

    11/20/2020 at 5:22 pm

    Kim,
    Thanks for allowing me to share this post. My share will be live on Sat. 11/21. Here is the link.
    https://www.thepondsfarmhouse.com/dirt-road-adventures/

    Reply
    • Kim says

      11/21/2020 at 6:02 pm

      You are so organized and sweet to feature me Rachel. Thank you.

      Reply
  7. Rachel Harper says

    11/14/2020 at 11:29 am

    Such a great tip Kim.
    Rachel

    Reply
    • Kim says

      11/21/2020 at 6:01 pm

      Thank you Rachel.

      Reply

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Meet Kim

Hi! I'm Kim. Welcome to my home & garden blog, Shiplap and Shells. We live in a small 1920 beach cottage in the Pacific Northwest and have spent the last 10 years renovating, reinventing, and adding character to our forever home. Read More…

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