Decaying leaves: The gift that keeps on giving

When you think of autumn, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Pumpkin spice? Cooler weather?

For many, it’s the leaves transforming.

With most of the country past peak foliage, those leaves have likely fallen and are littering lawns and streets. It’s a great time to think about what to do with the leaves as they fall.

While stepping on a crunchy leaf is extremely satisfying, the leaves take over yards, sidewalks and streets.

Sometimes when it rains, fallen leaves clog storm drains and can be a hazard while walking. So, it’s no surprise that many want to clean up these dead leaves.

People commonly bag the fallen leaves and consider the leaves trash.

But what if there were more environmentally friendly ways to take care of these dying leaves?

When you bag the dried autumn leaves and put them on the curb, they end up as trash in a landfill. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, yard waste accounts for nearly 20% of all garbage generated in the United States each year. That’s over 31 million tons.

As the leaves and other yard waste sit in landfills, they produce methane, which can pollute nearby air and soil.

So what are the alternatives?

Alternatives to leaf bagging

Realistically, leaves can remain in the yard where they fall. You can chop them with a mulching mower or even a regular lawnmower.

Leaves are biodegradable, meaning that bacteria or other living organisms can decompose them. While whole leaves take a longer time to break down (about two to three years), cut-up leaves decompose faster (about one year) and can provide plenty of nutrients for the soil.

(Photo by Chris Thompson)

You can use whole and/or chopped leaves in gardens and flower beds as mulch.

If you still don’t want leaves scattered all across the lawn, composting is a great way to beautify your lawn and garden in multiple ways.

To compost decaying leaves, chop them with a mower and combine them with green material (grass clippings work great here). Keep the combination moist and well mixed. It will probably take until spring to break down, but the result is a nutrient-rich fertilizer for any plants or crops.

If DIY composting isn’t your thing, check out local groups that collect leaves for composting. Happy leaf collecting!

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