This blog initially was intended to include practical ideas on what to do with piles of leaves this fall with tips on how to use leaves in your compost, to enrich your soil and where to take them for disposal.
However, in researching, wonderfully creative ideas were revealed on ways to use leaves in educational games you can play with your children, how you can have fun with leaves using them to create a leaf slide or maze and more.
So, in addition to including some practical ideas on how to use them around your vegetable garden and perennials, we will also include some fun and creative ideas on what to do with leaves beforehand.
It is important to note that while leaves can be FUN, they are also incredibly amazing organic matter and are often called “gardeners gold”. According to Almanac, “The trees have mined minerals from deep in the subsoil and brought them to the surface. Leaves are a rich source of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and more.”
Following are some practical and fun ideas on what to do with your leaves this fall:
1. Collect leaves, find the tree that matches the leaf and identify it.
This is a fun activity to play with young children. Once you identify the leaf, you can turn this into a craft project, preserving each leaf, mounting on paper and labeling each leaf with the tree it came from.
2. Catch falling leaves and count them.
This “is a fantastic activity for gross motor learning, hand-eye coordination, and sensory input of all kinds whether they are counting or not!” (Source: Rhythms of Play)
3. Rake up a big pile of leaves and jump in it.
If possible, have your child help with the raking of the leaves in order to help them have the satisfaction of participating in a task and achieving it. Or you can do this with another adult. If you have a dog they will also enjoy playing in the leaves with you as well.
4. Rake leaves into a maze or labyrinth shape
Photo courtesy of Happy Hooligans, Leaf Maze
Learn more here.
5. Turn that pile of leaves into a leaf slide
Photo courtesy of Happy Hooligans, Leaf Slide
Learn more here.
6. Rake leaves into a pile and use as a photo opp for you, your family or your pet!
7. Use leaves to make leaf art!
8. Make a fall wreath
To learn more on how to make a wreath out of leaves, visit this website for step-by-step instructions, HGTV, Make a Fall Leaf Wreath.
9. Mix shredded leaves in your soil in your vegetable or flower garden.
According to Almanac, “The huge amount of organic matter [leaves] offer can be used to improve soil structure.
- Leaf humus can lighten heavy clay soils.
- They feed earthworms and beneficial microbes.
- Leaves increase the moisture retention of dry, sandy soils.
- They make an attractive mulch in the flower garden.
- They are a fabulous source of carbon to balance the nitrogen in your compost pile.”
Leaves act as a natural fertilizer for soil, providing a source of carbon for the earth, returning valuable nutrients to the soil.”
Leaves are incredibly nutrient rich. They are like a “superfood” for the soil!
10. Add to your compost pile and you use the compost as a soil amendment.
11. Shred or chop leaves and use as mulch to cover vegetables, ornamental shrubs, perennials, strawberries and more. “They not only suppress weeds and help retain soil moisture, but because they contain no weed seeds themselves, they won’t encourage the spread of new weeds.” (Source: Almanac)
Remember, to keep in mind, “Like any mulch, you don’t want to pile leaves directly against shrub or tree trunks. Instead arrange them around stems like a donut, leaving some space around stems for airflow.” (Source: HGTV)
12. Mow your leaves into the lawn rather than picking them up or raking.
Photo: Earth Smart Property Solutions’ Hustler Lawn Mower
At Earth Smart Property Solutions we utilize a Hustler lawn mower that mulches grass. It is perfect for mowing large acreages, commercial properties and residential yards.
Learn more about mulching in our blog, “Mulching Grass: Benefits & Tips”.
13. Make leafmould
Never heard of leafmould? “Leafmould is simply what results when a pile of leaves has decomposed into dark, crumbly compost. This decayed matter is truly gardener’s gold and can be put to several uses in the garden: dig it into the soil to improve its structure, spread it on the soil surface as mulch, or use it as a basis for your own potting soil mix.” (Source: GrowVeg) Learn more about how to make leafmould here.
14. Let Leaves Offer Shelter
“Leaves that collect beneath shrubs and in planting beds provide winter protection for beneficial insects. If possible, let leaves collect and stay in these areas until spring arrives and frosty weather is finished. Warm spring afternoons wake insects from winter slumber and they’ll crawl, flit or fly out of leaves to begin a new life cycle.” (Source: HGTV)
15. Put in your Green Cart or take to a landfill.
Calgary:
Residents of Calgary can fill their green cart with leaves or they “can bring yard waste to a City landfill for free from Friday, September 23, 2022 to Saturday, November 5, 2022.” (Source: City of Calgary) Learn more here.
Red Deer:
Residents of Red Deer can put their yard waste into their Green Cart for year-round collection. Yard waste is also accepted year round at the Waste Management Facility. Please note, charges will apply at the Waste Management Facility, including a $7 minimum charge. (Source: City of Red Deer)
Free Yard Waste Week in Red Deer. October 10 – 15, 2022 “During Free Yard Waste Week residents can drop off compostable yard waste from their home free of charge at the Waste Management Facility. This includes large items such as tree trunks and branches. Maximum tree trunk size accepted is 4 feet in diameter and 4 feet in length.” Source: City of Red Deer
If you need help with your lawn and tree care this fall, please contact our team and we will be happy to help you.
Sources:
Almanac, 8 Ways to Use Fall Leaves in the Garden
City of Calgary, Seasonal yard waste cleanup options for 2022
City or Red Deer, Yard Waste
GrowVeg, How to Turn Fallen Leaves into Gardener’s Gold
HGTV, Make a Fall Leaf Wreath
Rhythms of Play, Raising Creative Outdoor Kids, Outdoor Fall Activities for Kids: 11 Ways to Play with Leaves
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