The Leaves Have Fallen, To Rake or Not to Rake…
By Patty Cressman, Grayson County Master Gardener
In case you have not yet addressed the fallen leaves that lay scattered across the ground, you are in luck. Procrastination of leaf removal benefits small wildlife and the soil. According to the National Wildlife Federation, leaves provide a natural habitat for butterflies, salamanders, chipmunks, box turtles, toads, shrews, and earthworms. Raking leaves disrupts their living conditions.
According to the Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension, if the leaves cover 20% of the ground, ignore them. Allow the leaves to blow around and settle so that they can break down into the ground and provide beneficial nutrients. If your lawn has 50% coverage of leaves, run a lawnmower over the leaves. This will assist in the decomposition of them. In the event the leaves blanket your ground, remove some of the leaves to prevent the grass from being smothered. Relocate the leaves to another area of your yard to provide beneficial mulch. The leaves you do not remove, you can run a lawnmower over them to assist in decomposition. Leaf mulch is high in carbon, which is a food source for decomposing organisms and allows for decomposition to happen. Brown leaves provide carbon for a compost pile.
In the event the tree had a foliage fungal disease, the leaves should be removed and disposed of properly.
According to the Texas A&M Agriculture Life Extension, trees and shrubs enjoy a 3 to 6 inch layer of shredded leaves. Flowerbeds require 2 to 3 inches of shredded leaves. Vegetable gardens can use a thick layer of leaves for weed prevention. The leaves can be scattered in the garden bed or between garden rows for walkways. If you do rake leaves, bag them and keep them for compost or mulch when spring arrives.
Burning leaves is another method of leaf removal provided you reside in a location that allows burning. Leaf burning has been done for many centuries and provides a fertilizer called potash. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, burning leaves emits pollutants that can affect nearby residents who suffer from health problems. Burnt leaves can be used in the garden for plants that prefer alkaline soil such as greens, garlic, and peas. Burnt leaves and wood are high in potassium, which improves flower production and strengthens the cell walls of the plants. Burnt twigs and leaves produce white ash that contains more potassium than dark or black ash.
If you do burn leaves, collect the remains as soon as possible to spread where desired. The leaves will lose their potassium content as time passes.
A pile of leaves can also provide a fun place to jump into. Bottom line, leaves are wonderful, they provide us with shade in the summer and fertilizer once they fall.