Nature's recycling:
Leaves enhance your garden soil in so many ways!
No need to bag those leaves in the fall for curbside take-away!
Leaves provide nourishment for your garden and improve the soil.
Decaying leaves add plant food for your garden with:
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Nitrogen
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Potash
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Phosphoric acid
In addition to nourishing the soil, adding leaves to your garden helps by:
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Breaking-up clay soil, so that it is more workable
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Adding structure to sandy soil, helping it retain moisture
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Creating an environment that breaks down the mineral elements in the soil for better plant absorption
Can all leaves be added to the garden?
Any deciduous (not evergreen) leaves will do. However, if your soil is acidic (test your soil pH), it is not advisable to add oak leaves, as they can increase the acidity of the soil further.
If you have a bounty of oak leaves, consider making leaf mold instead. Leaf-mold is much more neutral for the soil pH than using oak leaves directly in the garden.
Note: Try to use only leaves from healthy insect-free plants. If you have leaves that are diseased or infested, the best thing do with those is to burn them in a controlled setting.
How to add leaves to the garden?
Gather the leaves in the fall and make a thick coating of them over your garden plot. Then till them into the soil (in the fall). After just a few short seasons of doing this, you'll see a noticeable improvement in your soil's consistency and performance.
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Note: the advice and information contained herein is based upon our experience and study. As with any advice, please apply at your own discretion.