Leaf Mulching
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Q: What is leaf mulching?
A: Leaf mulching is the process of shredding leaves with a lawnmower and using them as mulch on your gardens and lawn.
Q: Why should I use leaves as mulch?
A: There are many important benefits of leaf mulching, including:
- Soil Enrichment
Leaf mulch returns nutrients back to the soil. Your lawn and gardens will require less fertilizer and other additives. By keeping your lawns nutrients in place, your lawn will be able to cycle important nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous.
- Water Conservation
Leaf mulch helps retain moisture in your soil. When soil is covered, the mulch lowers the soil's exposure to sun and wind which reduces evaporation. This will help protect against drought and also reduce the need to water your lawn.
- Weed Control
Leaf mulch can help keep those pesky weeds down. Add a thick layer (5-7.5cm) to gardens to reduce your need for herbicides.
- Insulation
Mulch acts as an insulator for your yard by protecting against heat in the summer, cold in the winter and from the wind all year round. This will allow for the underground work of beneficial earthworms and soil microorganisms to continue the processes of creating humus.
- Save Money
At-home management of your leaves reduces the need to buy paper yard waste bags. Consider leaf mulching as a sensible economical and environmental alternative to curbside collection of leaf and yard material.
- Save Your Energy
With leaf mulching, you don't need to worry about bending to collect leaves and then lifting heavy yard waste bags. By managing your leaves on-site, you won't have to worry about carrying bags to the curb.
Q: How do I leaf mulch?
A: Leaf mulching is as easy as mowing your lawn. Use these steps to guide you:
- Gather your leaves into a pile
- Using a lawn mower or other mulching device, slowly mow over the leaves, shredding them into small pieces
- Spread this leaf mulch over your garden beds and lawn.
Leaf Mulching Tips
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Mulch your leaves when leaves are relatively dry, to prevent clumping.
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Mow slowly, being sure to give the mower blades time to shred the leaves.
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Sharpen mower blade and change air filter more often when mulching thick layers of leaves.
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If your mower has a bagging attachment, you may collect some of the leaf mulch and apply it after the first hard freeze (and up to about a 2-inch depth) over bare spots, around trees, shrubs, perennial beds, or herb gardens, to encourage healthy growth.
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Leaf mulching works best when the mower is set to a three-inch height.
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If a first mowing leaves a significant amount of whole leaves, mow the area a second time (perpendicular to the first direction).
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If using a lawn mower to shred your leaves doesn't work for you, try using a weed-wacker instead. Place your leaves in a garbage bin and use a weed-wacker to shred the leaves.
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Rake the leaves relatively evenly over the lawn, creating no more than about a 2.5 cm carpet of leaves.
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A fall application of nitrogen fertilizer (about 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet) will help speed decomposition of the leaves and also will benefit the grass plants.
For more information, call the Waste Info-Line at 905-356-4141 or 1-800-594-5542.