Which Is the Best Way to Mulch Leaves? Learn Tips and Tricks to Mulch Leaves

Mulching is a great practice to improve your soil’s condition. But did you know there are several ways for mulching? Do you want to know which is the best way to mulch leaves? Keep reading this blog to learn more about this tree care tip.

There are no right ways to deal with your leaves, but you can find a particular method that works wonders for you. Here, you will find tips and tricks to better mulch leaves 

Moreover, mulching leaves have many advantages for your lawn and the environment. You can have better plants and fast germination just by creating your mulch. Some people wait for decomposing leaves to take advantage of the leaf mold to create mulch, and you can do this too. 

Put Down the Rake and Find the Benefits of Mulching Leaves

Sometimes, fallen leaves might be a headache. We think about raking and all the work that comes with it. But, do you ever wonder what would happen if you leave leaves where they are?

Don’t send the leaves to the trash; instead, use them to take advantage of the leaf litter, which is excellent for putting nutrients into the soil.

Best Way to Mulch Leaves (Tips and Tricks)

Here are some tips on the best way to mulch leaves:

• Use fresh grass clipping as mulch.
• Mow over the leaves.
• Use leaves to create “black gold” compost.
• Do not apply mulch too thick.
• Give your plants space to breathe.
• Make sure you get the correct mulching blades. 

Without a doubt, these tips and tricks will help you to mulch like a pro and get the best results for your landscape. 

Use Fresh Grass Clipping as Mulch

Mulching with grass clippings comes with many benefits for your land. If you don’t know what grass clippings are, they appear when you decide to cut the garden or yard grass. If you use a mower, the grass clippings are captured by the machine. In simple words, it is the cut grass. 

Grass clippings conserve moisture and cool the root zone of your plants, shrubs, and trees. You can also use it to make a compost pile with brown stuff like dead leaves to speed up the decomposing grass process and feed your lawn.

As one of the best natural fertilizers, grass clippings will give nutrients to the lawn soil.

Mow Over the Leaves

Mulching leaves require a process that includes mowing. You should not create the mulch with the entire leaves, so they should be in particles. You can put all the leaves in one space and mow them to obtain the small pieces. It is recommendable to rake the leaves into piles that go from 8 to 10 to cut.

After mowing the leaves, mix it with the other material to get the mulch. If you avoid this process, you can asphyxiate the seeds or the roots. Some garden shredders exist to have better shred leaves, or you can use your lawn mower to save money.

Use Leaves to Create “Black Gold” Compost

Compost is known as gardeners’ “black gold.” Using compost as mulch comes with all the benefits of regular mulch and adds the bonus of constantly nurturing the soil. It is made from different food wastes, leaves, rotten trash, and other decomposed organic material.

Mulching leaves with the different decomposed materials will allow you to create one of the best black gold, and if you have too much, you can sell it to your neighbors. 

One significant aspect of this compost is the ability to boost the soil drainage, and at the same time, it encourages good root growth. 

Do Not Apply Mulch too Thick

Applying a thick layer of mulch can keep water from penetrating the soil below. Therefore, your plants will not receive the right amount of moisture they need to live. Excessive mulching causes the ground to remain damp but not necessarily nourished, leading to root problems and a lack of oxygen.

Moreover, if your plants suffer from a lack of oxygen, they will die, and your soil will remain weak. When applying mulch, keep in mind not adding a layer that surpasses one to three inches thick. 

Give Your Plants and Trees Space to Breathe

One excellent recommendation is not to apply leaf mulch directly against tree bases or plant crowns, especially when using leaves because plants and trees need to breathe. It may retain excess moisture and foster diseases such as crown rot. It can also attract predatory insects and steam-eating rodents.

Trees and plants need nutrients and energy from the air and the sun to function correctly. Besides, there must exist a balance between oxygen and water, and putting too many leaves in mulching could block the surface and provoke root diseases.

Remember that roots must receive the sunlight every day to work great with photosynthesis, so don’t put too much mulch because everything in excess is unhealthy. It is crucial to not exceed with lawn fertilizers too. 

Make Sure You Get the Correct Mulching Blades

Mulching blades are used for different activities like mulching, digging, or bagging leaves. So, there exist various types of grass blades such as the standard, the gator, and there is one specialized for mulching.  They are great for areas where you won’t dig deeper, such as flower beds, garden pathways, and shrub borders.

Moreover, as they have curved surfaces, it easily allows smaller pieces of leaves and other items. It is vital to use the mulching blade because it is designed to cut the leaves, the organic trash, and the grass clippings directly. 

As one tip, the best time to apply mulch over the plants is in the Fall to prepare roots for winter. If you are seeding, make sure to do it with time to protect the seeds. You must pay attention to lawn care to protect your trees. 

Now that you know the best way to mulch leaves on your lawn, it’s time to follow these tricks. Remember that if you need tree service, we are here to help you with any doubt you might have. Don’t hesitate to contact us, and it will be a privilege to answer your concerns.