The plant-loving, environment-savvy gardeners know it well how valuable the leaves shed by deciduous trees and shrubs during fall are! They conserve moisture, stabilizing the soil temperature and making efficient organic mulch. This naturally formed mulch not only prevents weeds but themselves decay as organic matter and soil fertilizer elements.
But again, recycling methods to decay the leaves require either several weeks or even take a year or more!
But, here is a process of decaying shrubs and trees faster – Shred the leaves with a lawn mower and leave them under the shrubs and trees or compost them.
But why leaves?
The leaves are a valuable source of organic materials and nutrients for use in a garden and/or a landscape.
The leaves contain 50 to 80 percent of the nutrients the shrubs and trees extract from the soil and air during the growing season.
The leaves from most shrubs and trees contain more minerals — compared to animal manure — and no salts.
The leaves are more desirable to handle than manure.
The leaves’ fiber content improves the aeration and texture of the soil structure.
As all plant species require a suitable pH value to be healthy and productive, the oak leaves and pine needles are especially valuable for them, as these lower the pH of the alkaline soil and water in the Brazos Valley.
