What are you doing with your leaves this fall?

Our city wide leaf pick up began this week!

If you still haven’t raked up your leaves – don’t fret.

There are other ways to handle the leaves in your yard that are BENEFICIAL to your gardens!
One option would be to mulch them with your mower! This can save you time and money – and as the leaves break down they provide your lawn with a natural source of nutrients. If you decide to take this route, the leaves need to be mulched into dime size pieces and the worms will do the rest! Also, make sure to lay it evenly in your yard.

A second option would be, creating a leaf mold. Haven’t heard of leaf mold? It’s exactly what it sounds like! Leaf mold is an organic compost produced by decomposition of shrub and tree leaves by fungal breakdown. Although it can turn some people off, it would have significant benefits to your gardens. It’s known to improve your soil texture and increase your soil's water retention (which is great for perennial, vegetable, and container gardens!). To create a leaf mold, you simply rake your leaves into a pile about 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide, and if they’re not already damp, you’ll need to dampen them. And that’s it – really! But leaf mold doesn’t happen overnight, it takes about 6 months to create.  In Michigan that works out great, because the soil amendment would be ready right when spring arrives.
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If you don’t have enough leaves in your yard to create a pile of 3 foot by 3 foot, there’s another way to create a leaf mold by using garbage bags. Simply fill a bag full of leaves, seal it, and cut a few slits or holes to create air flow. You’ll have to check on them every month or so to make sure there is moisture in the bag and water if needed. But in 6 months time, your soil amendment will be ready to be laid in your gardens.

However, if neither of these options appeal to you, OERTHER’S still has leaf bags, leaf grabbers, and rakes in stock at the store for you! While you're there, you could snag a pair of insulated gloves to keep those hands warm during your yard clean up.