Well don’t just leaf them there, use them, they are perfect for composting as they break down easily and pass nutrients to the soil. And most important they are free and abundant – if you have trees around the place, which we do.
Or use them as mulch – they improve the structure of soil, retain moisture, and can suppress weeds. We have a large oak out the back that give us plenty of leaves to use for both. Just
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Gather as many leaves as you can
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Chop them up, using a lawn mower – this will help speed up the decomposition, as small microbes eat small pieces quicker than they do big pieces, but if you are in no hurry, just leave them as they are
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Select a small part of the garden and pile them up in layers, or make a leaf mould cage to put them in so they are contained
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Add some blood and bone
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Lightly water in – don’t make it too wet and don’t let it dry out (which is unlikely this time of the year)
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Every few weeks aerate the pile by turning it, which will speed up the process
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When ready, add it to the garden
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Alternatively, I just take a few big armfuls and put them as is under the apple tree, along with some blood and bone to break down and stop the weeds, which seems to work just fine by the looks of the size and quantity of apples that come off the tree.
So why not – it recycles and reduces waste, is free, easy, rewarding and very satisfying for you, the soil and the plants that feed from it.
Enjoy
Peter