Leaf mulch is a layer of chopped tree leaves spread across garden soil to feed plants and block weeds. You make it by running fallen leaves through a mower until the pieces shrink down to the size of a dime.
I tried this for the first time one fall and I was shocked at how well it worked. I raked piles of maple leaves into a corner of the yard. Then I ran the mower over the pile to chop them up. The next spring my tomatoes grew in that spot like never before.
These shredded leaves work better than whole ones for one big reason. They break down faster and pack down less in the rain. A thick mat of whole leaves can smother grass and trap too much water around plant crowns in winter.
You spread the chopped leaves across your beds at a depth of 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) for the best results. This blanket of organic mulch holds soil moisture during dry spells. It also blocks the sun and stops weed seeds from sprouting in your beds.
The leaves slowly rot and feed the soil with nutrients the tree pulled up from deep below over the summer. Earthworms love this stuff. They pull bits of leaf down into your soil to mix it up for you for free.
Most tree leaves work great as mulch. Oak and maple are the top picks for home gardens. Avoid black walnut leaves in your vegetable beds. They release a chemical called juglone that harms tomatoes and peppers.
I learned the timing trick after my first fall of mulching. Start gathering your fall leaves in mid-October once the trees drop the bulk of their crop. Pile them up in a corner or store them in mesh bags. This way you have plenty on hand when you want to top up your beds.
Leaf mulch differs from leaf mold in one key way. Mulch is fresh and chunky and goes on top of soil right away. Leaf mold is the crumbly black stuff you get after letting those same leaves sit for one to two years. Both feed your soil but they look and feel quite different in your hands.
Try it once and you will see why I now save every leaf in my yard each fall. The cost is zero and your plants will pay you back with bigger fruit and fewer weeds the next summer.
Read the full article: Leaf Mulch: Complete Garden Guide
