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GARDENING » COMPOST MULCH AND SOIL PREPARATION Co-authored by:

Lauren Kurtz
How to Turn Dead Leaves Into Mulch Professional Gardener

Co-authors: Updated: Views:

Co-authored by Lauren Kurtz Download Article
Last Updated: March 2, 2024 4 March 2, 2024 26,282

METHODS
You don't need to let dead leaves go to waste in the
fall. You can harvest dead leaves and use them as
1 Raking up Fallen Leaves 88% of readers found this article helpful.
2 Composting Leaves into Mulch
8 votes - 88%
mulch. You will have to gather and shred the leaves 3 Using Leaf Mulch
Click a star to add your vote
and then prepare a compost heap. By mixing the OTHER SECTIONS
leaves with a few ingredients, you'll have mulch for Tips and Warnings
Related Articles A D V E RT I S E M E N T
spring. You can use mulch to fertilize your soil and
References
add to a compost bin.

A D V E RT I S E M E N T

Method
1 Raking up Fallen Leaves Download Article

1 Get your leaves in a pile. To start, rake up the leaves in your yard. You want to
gather all the leaves together so you can prepare to turn them into mulch.
If you have a smaller yard, you may only need one big pile of leaves.
If you have a bigger yard, you may have to make a series of piles to rake up all the
leaves.

2 Shred your leaves. To make mulch, you will need to shred your leaves. There are
many different ways you can do this.
If you have a leaf shredder or wood chopper, try feeding your leaves through this
machine.
If you don't have one of these machines, you can run a lawn mower over your
leaves to shred them. You will have to thin your piles out a little so the lawnmower
can run over them.
A D V E RT I S E M E N T

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3 Prepare a compost bin. You need a compost bin for the process of turning leaves
into mulch. If you already have a compost bin, you can use that. If you don't, you will
need to prepare one.
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You can purchase a compost bin at a local hardware store. It's important the bin be Quiz Compatibility Quiz
at least 3 by 3 feet. Take Quiz Take Quiz
You will probably end up with several 12 to 18 inch layers of leaves, so make sure
the compost bin you select can accommodate this.
A D V E RT I S E M E N T
A D V E RT I S E M E N T

Method
Composting Leaves into Mulch Download Article
2

1 Start with a six inch pile of leaves. You will need to create several layers when
turning leaves into mulch. To start, you should spread out a pile of leaves on the
bottom of your compost bin. Keep the pile about six inches high.[1]

2 Add a material with a higher nitrogen level. You need materials high in nitrogen to
help break down the leaves and create mulch. Manure is generally the best material
you can use here. If you don't have manure, you can also use cottonseed meal, bone meal,
or Agrinite. You can purchase many of these items at a local hardware store.[2]
It's best to have a five to one ratio. There should be five parts leaves and one part
of your nitrogen material.

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3 Add water. Getting the leaves a little wet with help them turn into mulch. There is no
precise amount of water to add. It depends on how much leaves you're working with.
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Add enough water that the leaves are damp but not saturated with moisture.

How to Build a
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A D V E RT I S E M E N T

4 Turn the leaves frequently. Once the leaves and nitrogen are mixed, it's up to you to
help them turn into mulch. You will have to take a rake or similar tool and turn the
leaves over every three days. This will help them begin to break down and turn into mulch.
[3]

5 Cover the heap with a plastic sheet. Keep your leaves covered with a plastic sheet
or tarp. This will keep your leaves warm. It will also prevent weather from drying the
leaves out or getting them wet.[4]

Method
Using Leaf Mulch Download Article
3

1 Add mulch to your garden. Mulch can be used in your garden. You can place them
over seeds and plants for fertilizer and protection.
A six inch blanket of leaves can help protect plants over the winter from strong
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2 Put the mulch in a compost pile. If you have an existing compost pile, separate
from the one you used to turn your leaves to mulch, you can add your mulch to this.
The high nitrogen compost of mulch created with leaves can easily help break down
organic material in a compost pile.[6]

3 Fertilize your soil. Mulch can be used as a fertilizer in the spring. You can add a
layer of mulch where you're planting new flowers and plants. This may help them
grow faster.[7]

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Tips

If you plan ahead, you can skip the composting process altogether and simply add freshly
shredded leaves directly to the garden beds in the fall. They’ll decompose over the winter
and spring, providing your soil with plenty of nutrients.

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A D V E RT I S E M E N T

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References

1. ↑ http://compostguide.com/using-leaves-for-composting/
2. ↑ http://compostguide.com/using-leaves-for-composting/
3. ↑ http://compostguide.com/using-leaves-for-composting/
4. ↑ http://compostguide.com/using-leaves-for-composting/
5. ↑ http://www.gardeners.com/how-to/put-fall-leaves-to-work/5402.html
6. ↑ http://www.gardeners.com/how-to/put-fall-leaves-to-work/5402.html
7. ↑ https://www.hortmag.com/smart-gardening/a-warning-when-using-fallen-leaves-as-mulch

About This Article

Co-authored by:
Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener

This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural
Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at
Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in
Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. This
article has been viewed 26,282 times.

Co-authors: 4
8 votes - 88% Updated: March 2, 2024
Views: 26,282

Categories: Compost Mulch and Soil Preparation

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