Nature’s treasure of leaves have started to fall. Putting them in your garden is one of the best things you can do for your soil.
The way to get the most benefit from the leaves is to leave them whole. (They decay by spring in my garden.)
Why?
The process of decay of raw organic materials adds energy to the soil. Every stage of decay involves specific soil organisms that offer their unique contribution to your soil. There is no substitute for this.
For example: Compost does not add energy or eliminate the need for energy. Its value lies in the nitrogen and minerals it might contain.
How Do I Know?
I learned this from soil scientist Robert Parnes who ran the soil testing facility at Wood End Laboratory in Maine in the 1980s.
You can download his book as a PDF and read for free here
More easy reading posts that will help you know more are:
https://tendingmygarden.com/energy-is-lost-when-residue-is-reduced-to-fine-particles/
https://tendingmygarden.com/using-your-leaves-in-a-way-to-get-the-most-benefit/
https://tendingmygarden.com/organic-residues-the-needed-energy-for-soil-fertility/
https://tendingmygarden.com/ideas-to-easily-help-restore-fertility-to-your-garden/
https://tendingmygarden.com/is-finished-compost-the-only-thing-you-need-for-your-soil-and-plants/
https://tendingmygarden.com/your-success-natures-principles-work-hand-in-hand/
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been pulverizing your leaves with the lawn mower you might want to leave them whole going forward to get the most they offer your soil.
Will leave more leaves in my flower and shrub beds this year – thanks, Theresa!
I was reading in the Garden Rant ( a community of garden writers, both disgruntled and gruntled) that a new study has come out saying that chopping up leaves for mulch does much damage to the insect communities that live in the fallen leaf ecosystems. Here is the link they gave to an article about the study. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969725004565.
I love that the easiest way is also the best way!
Thank you for compiling all these links in one single place, I find it very useful
Sending love and hugs from the TN Dirtgirl. I so appreciate your tenacity in teaching, even when it’s difficult to do what you teach. I’m right there with you!! Keep teaching the love of our only home planet!
Happy Thanksgiving.
It’s probably to chilly to spend much time outdoors today, but it’s sunny and I need to get outside.
Thanks for all the gardening advice.
Such great news! I’ve never chopped up the leaves. Yay!