Put the rake and bag down: Here’s why fallen leaves are pure gold for the garden

Many people say fall, characterized by warm days and cool nights, is their favorite season. Fall conditions turn the foliage of trees and shrubs into brilliant yellow, orange and red hues in the landscape.

As it is said, all good things must come to an end. The colorful foliage soon fades, and leaves begin to accumulate on the ground.

Instead of raking and bagging those leaves, consider time-saving options that are better for the environment. This requires us to change our mindset. Start to think of leaves as a resource, not trash.

Leaves are a rich source of organic matter. Once decomposed, they can transform our heavy clay soils. As leaves naturally break down, they feed the living soil mass of fungi, bacteria and other life important for building our food web.

Leaves raked, bagged and hauled away rob the soil profile of this benefit. Resources such as fuel are used, contributing to greenhouse gases and potentially harming the environment. The goal is to keep the leaves at home.

The simplest way to manage leaves is by mulch mowing and letting the lawnmower do the work. It is best to mow when a light layer of leaves covers the lawn. The mower blade chops the leaves, allowing them to filter back to the soil surface. Here the leaves break down into rich organic matter, improving the soil.

Success with mulch mowing only happens with frequent mowing. Mow when there is about an inch or less of leaves on the turf. Up to 6 to 8 inches in total of fallen leaves can be chopped and returned to the soil by mowing frequently.

If mulch mowing doesn’t handle all the fallen leaves, there is another trick: double mowing. Remove the bagging attachment and mow the leaves. By removing the collection bag, the mower chops the leaves into finer particles.

After the first pass, replace the bag and mow a second time. The result is more finely chopped leaves, significantly reducing the bulk or mass of leaves. Double mowing lets a deeper pile of leaves cover the lawn.

These chopped leaves can be used in several ways. One is to use them as mulch in the landscape. Simply spread the leaves around the bases of trees and shrubs. Consider ground leaves a free source of mulch, saving you the labor and expense of spreading wood chips.

Composting ground leaves is another option. Finely chopped leaves break down rapidly. The compost can be spread back into the lawn or into planting beds, improving growth.

Lastly, we need to get over the idea every leaf needs to be removed from the landscape. Leaf litter is essential for a healthy ecosystem.

Many of our native pollinators and beneficial insects use leaves that collect at the bases of trees, shrubs and corners of the yard as protection over the winter. Removing fallen leaves removes habitat and reduces the population of these much-needed insects.

Change your mindset. Leaves can be a pain, but consider how vital they are for our soils and beneficial insects. That will give us a better understanding, appreciation and tolerance for nature’s bounty.

Dennis Patton is a horticulture agent with Kansas State University Research and Extension. Have a question for him or other university extension experts? Email them to garden.help@jocogov.org.