.jpg){kind=small}
The extreme and unusual weather patterns we have had this year have caused the leaves to remain on our trees longer than I can ever remember.
Many people bag their leaves in plastic bags and leave them curbside for city pickup service. This is time consuming and costly in more ways than one. Bags are an expense and thrash pickup is costly too. Instead of buying bags, mulch and/or compost, the most cost-effective way to handle our leaves is to recycle them into mulch or compost. As mulch, they can be used to cover the base or root areas of plants in our beds during extreme cold temperatures. Fruit trees do well with about two to four inches of mulch and/or compost around their roots.
Do not let the leaves remain on your turf grass too long because the grass could smother. At the very least rake and pile your leaves in a place where they will most likely not blow away. Over a period of time, the leaves start decaying on their own and in about two years your leaf compost should be ready to apply to your garden or flower beds. Also, in the process of raking, place smaller leaves directly into your flower beds for plant protection during the cold winter months. Larger leaves can be mowed into smaller pieces and then placed into the beds or the compost pile.
Composting your leaves does not have to be hard and compost containers do not need to be expensive or elaborate. A container can be made of cinder blocks, chicken wire and scrap boards or old trash cans. Be sure to allow air to flow in and out of the container by leaving breathing spaces in the container. Adding kitchen garbage such as egg shells, vegetable peelings, tea bags, coffee grounds and other scraps (but not animal fat) makes richer compost. Stir your compost occasionally until decomposition occurs.
Check out our Smith County Extension Horticulturist, Keith Hansen's article on "Composting for Better Gardens" at easttexasgardening.tamu.edu for more information.
By raking, mulching and composting, your garden and turf grass will be healthier and prettier next spring and summer.
Tricia Wiggs, Smith County Master Gardener
Texas AgriLife Extension Service