Using leaf mulch in the garden is one of the best ways to build soil, reduce weeds, retain moisture, and insulate plants. Plus, you can turn mulched leaves into leaf mold which saves money on buying compost and other soil amendments. In this article I’ll show you three easy ways to make leaf mulch and how to put it to work in your garden.

What is leaf mulch?

Leaf mulch is a layer of leaves applied to the soil surface around plants. It’s made from fallen leaves, which I collect in mid to late autumn and store until they’re needed. The best leaf mulch comes from using shredded leaves, not whole leaves. This is because whole leaves tend to mat together and create an impenetrable layer. This dense blanket of leaves prevents water and air from passing through and can smother grass or plants. Whole leaves also take longer to break down. If you’re not sure how to shred your leaves, don’t worry. I’ve got three options detailed below.

One last note about fall leaves. Because many beneficial insects overwinter in leaf litter I mulch my leaves as soon as possible after they fall and before these species have a chance to settle down for winter.

How to make leaf mulch: 3 options

As noted above, leaf mulch is made from chopped autumn leaves. Leaves don’t chop themselves, however, so below you’ll learn three ways to shred fallen leaves. Remember to always wear eye and ear protection when operating garden equipment. 

• Option 1: Lawn mower or mulching mower – I use my lawn mower to chop and collect the leaf litter on my lawn. The leaves are broken down into small pieces as I mow over them and are collected in the bag attachment.
• Option 2: Chipper shredder – A chipper shredder, also called a wood chipper, is used to finely chop branches, twigs, leaves, and other types of garden debris. When using it for leaves, the resulting mulch is ideal for garden use. Chipper shredders can be electric or gasoline-powered and the organic materials are placed in the chute or hopper where a blade shreds them. More lightweight leaf mulcher and shredders are also available if your main goal is leaf shredding and not chipping branches and twigs.
• Option 3: String trimmer – The final way to shred leaves for leaf mulch is to use a string trimmer. You’ll need a clean dry garbage can or large bin. Fill it about two-thirds full with the leaves and use a nylon string trimmer to quickly and effortless chop them into tiny bits. Empty the bin and repeat until all of the leaves are shredded. 

When making leaf mulch with a chipper shredder or string trimmer be sure to wear protective equipment, including eye goggles.

To learn more about making and using leaf mulch, watch this video:

Can all leaves be turned into leaf mulch?

I don’t recommend using the leaves from black walnut trees as mulch. This is because they contain juglone, a substance that inhibits plant growth. And while the leaves contain less juglone than the tree roots, they likely have enough that they may affect the growth of edible and ornamental plants. You can however compost the leaves with other materials and use the finished compost in the garden.

Oak leaves are another type of leaf that has a reputation of being bad for plants. While they do take longer to break down, oak leaves make a fine leaf mulch – as long as they’re shredded first. So if your property is home to oak trees, feel free to turn their fallen foliage into leaf mulch.

7 Ways to use leaf mulch in your garden

Now that you’ve got a big pile of shredded leaves, you need to know how you can put them to work in vegetable gardens and flower beds. 

1) Mulch vegetables

Leaf mulch is invaluable in my large vegetable garden. Mulching the soil surface with a 3 to 4 inch thick layer of shredded leaves saves me hours of weeding and watering. It reduces water loss, discourages weed growth, enriches the soil as it breaks down, and regulates the soil temperature. It also creates a tidy appearance in my vegetable beds. Over the summer the mulch begins to break down as worms, insects, and other soil organisms, as well as fungi and bacteria, consume the leaf pieces. This releases nutrients back into the soil for plants to use.

2) Mulch ornamental plants

Leaf mulch isn’t just for veggies! It’s also beneficial to use around trees, shrubs, and perennials, particularly those that are newly planted. Apply a 2 to 3 inch layer of shredded leaves around the plants, leaving a couple of inches between the mulch layer and the trunk or crown of the plant. This allows for good air flow and decreases the risk of pest damage from voles and mice. Mulching is an easy way to reduce the growth of weeds in shrub and perennial beds.

3) Create leaf mold compost

Making leaf mold compost isn’t difficult and the finished product is a crumbly dark soil amendment, a resource called garden gold by those who use it. It begins with the dead leaves that fall in autumn. Pile them up, ideally after shredding, and let them rot for a year or two. If your site is very windy, lay a piece of chicken wire or several evergreen boughs on top of the pile to keep the shredded leaves in place. Or use a compost bin to turn tons of leaves into leaf mold compost.

Watering the pile occasionally in dry weather ensures the fungi and bacteria have the moisture they need to thrive. To speed up decomposition, turn the pile every couple of weeks to add oxygen. The finished leaf mold isn’t necessarily rich in nutrients but it does wonders for the soil structure. Clay soil, in particular, is much improved with the addition of leaf mold. 

4) As a lawn top dressing

Turn fallen autumn leaves into leaf mulch for your lawn. Run over top them several times using a lawn mower or mulching mower. Once the leaves are in small pieces, leave them on top of the grass. Just make sure there are no deep piles of leaf mulch. The small bits of leaves will break down and feed the soil. 

5) Top dress vegetable beds

You can also top dress empty vegetable garden beds with shredded leaves in late autumn to prevent winter soil erosion. When spring arrives, turn the half rotted leaf mulch into the soil or transplant your vegetable seedlings through the layer of chopped leaves.

6) To insulate roses, garlic, and other plants in winter

Leaf mulch is also useful for protecting plants over winter. I hill leaves up around my roses and tender perennials in late autumn before the ground freezes. I also top my garlic beds with a 3 to 4 inch deep layer after planting. This prevents the newly planted cloves from heaving out of the soil over winter. 

7) To keep pathways clean

I like to use a layer of mulch on the pathways that run between my raised vegetable beds. This keeps walking areas clean and tidy and shoes mud-free. There are various materials you can use to mulch garden pathways including bark mulch, wood chips, straw, and shredded leaves.

How to store leaf mulch

I make my leaf mulch in autumn but because I often don’t use it until spring, I need to store it. There are several ways to store leaf mulch. You can pile it up near your garden and leave it there until you need it the following growing season. This works fine, but the small leaf pieces can be prone to blowing away in gusty weather. It’s best to cover the pile with chicken wire or evergreen branches.

Or create a leaf corral by forming a length of chicken wire into a 5 to 6 foot diameter circle. It should be 3 to 4 feet tall. Fill this with your fallen leaves. They’ll stay in place until you need them. Although if you wait too long, they’ll turn to leaf mold compost. Another storage option is to place the chopped leaves into large plastic or paper bags. Place these conveniently near your garden or compost area. 

For more information on composting and mulching be sure to check out these detailed articles:

• A guide to mulching with straw
• How to sheet mulch to make new garden beds
• 9 strategies to a weed-free garden
• How to topdress your lawn