For a couple of months now trees have been transitioning into dormancy, and their leaves have been falling. By now most of the leaves have fallen. To some this display makes for a beautiful backdrop for a family picture. Some see the leaves falling in conjunction with the celebration of the harvest.
Others absolutely despise all of those leaves in their yard. As an added bonus, we are now getting into one of the busiest times of year, and managing or handling leaves is probably not the most desirable task on everyone’s to do list. However, no matter what your thoughts are on the sight of the leaves, they actually can play an important role going into the winter and next spring.
The easiest method in managing leaves is to mulch them. This can easily be accomplished by mowing the leaves to chop them up.
Chopping your leaves is especially important for your lawn because even in dormancy your lawn needs light. A thick layer of leaves will hinder light, most likely cause damage to your turf, and create a weed problem in the future. The chopped-up leaves will decompose and add organic matter to your soil basically for free. However, if there is more than a thin layer of leaves that are being chopped, it would be most beneficial to not leave those.
Once the leaves get wet from rain and dew they will begin to form a mat preventing sunlight and airflow to the ground below. If there are simply too many leaves then it would be worth removing some of them so as to not cause more harm than good. Another option would be to mulch the leaves by incorporating them into a garden or flower bed and accomplishing the same result.
An added benefit to using leaves as mulch is to regulate the soil temperature, control weeds during the winter, and allow for a consistent soil moisture level. In areas where there is no grass, the leaves can serve as a habitat for overwintering insects such as pollinators. In that scenario, removing the leaves would not be necessary. If you are a composter or know someone who is, then the leaves can be utilized as well to add to the organic matter.
Finally, leaves can be used as insulation for plants. This area does not necessarily get brutal winters like other parts of the country, but providing insulation for flowers or other ornamental plants can be a great benefit as the temperatures drop. Regardless which option is best for you, be sure to chop or cut up the leaves to aid in the decomposition process. Leaves do tend to take a longer time to decompose, and chopping or cutting the leaves will speed that process along.
One disclaimer is that if you had plants with signs of a foliar disease then those leaves would need to be removed. Many diseases overwinter much like insects do in the fallen leaves, and by leaving the diseased leaves you can be certain you will have the same disease next year and probably more of it. For more information on any agricultural related issues or questions you may have, feel free to stop by, contact the Jones County Extension office at 478-986-3958, or email brennan4@uga.edu.
