Fallen leaves Now what do you do with them?

Burning pollutes the air and is dangerous (it’s also banned in some areas). Leaf blowers use fossil fuels and produce emissions. And leaf blowers are extremely loud and are considered by some to contribute to noise pollution as well. They are highly biodegradable and surrounding them with non-biodegradable plastic makes little sense. So here are some alternatives.

Green Ways to Deal With Fallen Leaves

1. Compost

You can add those that have been raked to your existing compost pile. They will break down and make rich compost. You can also compost them alone, creating a rich compost called leaf mold. Leaf mold can be used as fertilizer like regular compost.

2. Mulch

Spreading the fallen ones over your garden can make excellent protective mulch. Leaf mulch protects roots from excessive cold, and it can even protect foliage if you pile it deep enough. Potted plants can benefit from a pile of leaf mulch over and around their containers. Leaf mulch will make the soil richer as it decomposes, too.

Those that have fallen can be chopped or shredded and used as mulch in that form, too. When they are cut into smaller pieces, they can be used as mulch on your main lawn. If you don’t have a shredder, you can run your lawnmower over the them on the lawn to chop them up. If you use a reel mower, it’s an even more eco-friendly venture.

3. Rake

Raking is much more eco-friendly than using a leaf blower, as noted above. It’s also good exercise. Choose a rake that is comfortable in your hands and is easy to handle. You can rake them onto a tarp, or into a garbage pail and then drag them to your compost pile or wherever you choose to dispose of them.

4. Leave some leaves

You don’t have to rake every leaf off your lawn and property. Leave some of them that have fallen as shelter for overwintering animals and insects. Frogs, birds, and other creatures like to burrow under these for protection from the cold. So leave some of them under your shrubs and around your trees.

Also, if you live in a wooded area, you can spread them onto the forest floor. Wild creatures and plants benefit from this covering of leaves.

There are a lot of options for them that do not contribute to pollution and global warming. If your local municipality collects them, make sure that they are either composted or mulched. Most local communities do this, but better to be sure before hand.

We hope that Fallen Leaves How to Deal with Them The Green Way helps you to dispose of the leaves the eco-friendly way!