I took my leaves, my son-in-law and daughter delivered theirs and my back neighbor dumped his over my back fence, used in the heavy soil of my high tunnel,the new food forest and covering the bare soil of my row garden
Great video and it needs to be said to remove leaves from hardscape, especially in an urban environment. Wet leaves are slippery on the sidewalk and leaves on the road end up clogging the storm drains. I find that keeping my sidewalk, stone paths and street clear of leaves--creating neatness--really makes the leaves in my beds looks intentional and, therefore, tidy. Cues for care, as they say.
When I first moved to NC and was contemplating how to improve my soil I noticed that people put their leaves in bags and put them at the curb 🤔so I became a leaf wrangler in my pickup truck 🛻 now I run my mower each week (I have massive trees) and use the leaves all over my yard. My soil is amazing now!
I live in a very wet climate and have tons of slugs and snails. I don't leave any debris in my garden for this reason. They would thank me profusely for giving them all that warm winter protection by devouring every new shoot that emerged in spring. As it is I spend the whole growing season picking them up and hucking them into the ravine as I abhor chemicals even more than the slugs and it is too gross to squish them. I do give the beds a layer of sea soil mulch which the slugs hate and the plants love.
Great detail on why we leave the leaves! I see my neighbors putting out tons of Lowe's bags full of leaves. Mine all get either mulched into the lawn or raked into the garden beds. It's also a lot less effort and I don't need to buy bags of mulch. Win-win. Nature provides! Plus it's fun to watch the Juncos flipping through the leaves.
Like your hat! I’m trying to leave all leaves in place. It’s an experiment to see what happens with the grass etc. It looks beautiful right now.💖😊🍁🍁🍁🙏🙌
Our big garden maintenance task here in the NC Sandhills not dealing with leaves but constant keeping the natural longleaf pinestraw "dump" off shrubs and perennials. Two thirds of our property is actually covered in straw. We've tried to work with the existing huge longleaf pines so that we have a constant "fresh" look. But most of the cleanup is done by hand. Tedious, but a lovely natural look. We do need to rake the straw off small areas of turf. Totally agree with your philosophy that a garden can be beautiful without being perfectly manicured! Thanks, Jim and Stefany!
Excellent video. My habits have changed so much over the last few years. Realizing how beneficial it is to our garden. I was one of those who did not want to see one leaf in my garden bed. Yikes! I am still confused about spring/summer if I want the garden to look more manicured. Mulch on top, or remove leaves, then mulch? I like what you said, the forest floor wants to be covered. Part of God's plan!
I love the 5 minute Fridays...even if they're 10 minutes! LOL! Thanks to you, Jim, I'm leaving my leaves. I don't like the look through the winter but they do keep the weeds down. I go through the beds with a long bladed trimmer and whack the oak leaves up so they'll break down easier over winter.
I’ve been over my container garden, large pots and compost in large black plastic bags. It’s amazing how much mulch you can make with leaves right in my backyard
As always good information! by the way my son just told me about a reverse leaf blower thing, like a vacuum that picks up and shreds the leaves, then they can be easily added to the garden. hand held. made by a company called echo. got to get one!
Not only do I leave the leaves but I also so steal the leaves (from neighbors). Good reminder about keeping an eye on the perennials. Happy fall gardening Northern hemisphere folks!
Hi Jim - I'm breaking down my leaves and putting them back into flower beds. To have everything look tidy, do I also need to add pine straw once the leaves are all down? Or is that too much? Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!
We do throw our grass clippings in the beds as a mulch. I like a garden neat and tidy, so the leaves must go. It would make me crazy if our garden looked messy. 😂
Jim I was recently gifted some aged sheep manure from a farmer friend. Is it ok if i go ahead and put it in my beds now even though everything is going to sleep? My soil is mostly clay and I'm trying to improve it with compost and mulch.
It's SO MUCH less work to mow my lawn and mulch the leaves in than to rake them, blow the, bag them, haul them, etc... I have no idea why that's not the standard approach. This is from someone who does try to maintain a perfect stand of turf.
Due to voles, I rake leaves for a pile of compost in a raised bed. But I know leaves make best compost. When voles are gone I will leave leaves in place.
I’ve always shredded them and used for mulch or if it’s dry and not too deep just mulch it into the lawn and I do keep a nice lawn. If I backed up to woods I would definitely just blow it all into there and be done with it as ik many people that do
I have loads of leaves every year from a large maple and several oaks, and have always tried to use them for either making compost or mulching. But now I'm wondering after watching another gardener's video (different state) where "jumping worms" were mentioned, and a caution was given about leaves attracting them. So, my question is, should I be concerned about using them as mulch here in Western NC?
He showed breaking them down somehow-mowing over, etc. if you have a lot. Then spreading them back over to break down to turn into compost. If not that many, leave them.
I do not put any leaves to the curb, I’ve got two massive silver maples and unfortunately a large Norway maple that is invasive here, but provides much needed shade. Niagara region, Ontario Canada. 🇨🇦
I really enjoy these 10 minute Friday videos
I took my father in laws leaves last year and it made my clay way better to work with
I took my leaves, my son-in-law and daughter delivered theirs and my back neighbor dumped his over my back fence, used in the heavy soil of my high tunnel,the new food forest and covering the bare soil of my row garden
Great video and it needs to be said to remove leaves from hardscape, especially in an urban environment. Wet leaves are slippery on the sidewalk and leaves on the road end up clogging the storm drains. I find that keeping my sidewalk, stone paths and street clear of leaves--creating neatness--really makes the leaves in my beds looks intentional and, therefore, tidy. Cues for care, as they say.
When I first moved to NC and was contemplating how to improve my soil I noticed that people put their leaves in bags and put them at the curb 🤔so I became a leaf wrangler in my pickup truck 🛻 now I run my mower each week (I have massive trees) and use the leaves all over my yard. My soil is amazing now!
I'm enjoying "5 Minute Friday". 🤗
Me too!
I live in a very wet climate and have tons of slugs and snails. I don't leave any debris in my garden for this reason. They would thank me profusely for giving them all that warm winter protection by devouring every new shoot that emerged in spring. As it is I spend the whole growing season picking them up and hucking them into the ravine as I abhor chemicals even more than the slugs and it is too gross to squish them. I do give the beds a layer of sea soil mulch which the slugs hate and the plants love.
Thanks for reminding us all that we have resources in our own back yard!
Great detail on why we leave the leaves! I see my neighbors putting out tons of Lowe's bags full of leaves. Mine all get either mulched into the lawn or raked into the garden beds. It's also a lot less effort and I don't need to buy bags of mulch. Win-win. Nature provides! Plus it's fun to watch the Juncos flipping through the leaves.
Starting last year I began hoarding them for compost.
Leaves are gold in the garden. I save all from my trees. East Vancouver Island BC, Canada.
Like your hat! I’m trying to leave all leaves in place. It’s an experiment to see what happens with the grass etc. It looks beautiful right now.💖😊🍁🍁🍁🙏🙌
Our big garden maintenance task here in the NC Sandhills not dealing with leaves but constant keeping the natural longleaf pinestraw "dump" off shrubs and perennials. Two thirds of our property is actually covered in straw. We've tried to work with the existing huge longleaf pines so that we have a constant "fresh" look. But most of the cleanup is done by hand. Tedious, but a lovely natural look. We do need to rake the straw off small areas of turf. Totally agree with your philosophy that a garden can be beautiful without being perfectly manicured! Thanks, Jim and Stefany!
Good morning Jim and Stephany. I love this series. Thank you and have a wonderful weekend 😊
Great video. Thank you both !!!
Excellent video. My habits have changed so much over the last few years. Realizing how beneficial it is to our garden. I was one of those who did not want to see one leaf in my garden bed. Yikes! I am still confused about spring/summer if I want the garden to look more manicured. Mulch on top, or remove leaves, then mulch? I like what you said, the forest floor wants to be covered. Part of God's plan!
I have done this for years and it makes gardening so much easier and less expensive! The results are amazing! Thanks Jim!👍🏻
❤THANK YOU for these Great Tips and Suggestions..
I love the 5 minute Fridays...even if they're 10 minutes! LOL! Thanks to you, Jim, I'm leaving my leaves. I don't like the look through the winter but they do keep the weeds down. I go through the beds with a long bladed trimmer and whack the oak leaves up so they'll break down easier over winter.
Yes, we’ve been doing this for years also plus grass clippings.
Thank you Jim! Yes, my leaves go whole into the veggie garden, works very well the spring!
I’ve been over my container garden, large pots and compost in large black plastic bags. It’s amazing how much mulch you can make with leaves right in my backyard
As always good information! by the way my son just told me about a reverse leaf blower thing, like a vacuum that picks up and shreds the leaves, then they can be easily added to the garden. hand held. made by a company called echo. got to get one!
Awesome video!! Great information about leaves and composting
Good timing, I'm knee deep in leaf season!
Not only do I leave the leaves but I also so steal the leaves (from neighbors). Good reminder about keeping an eye on the perennials. Happy fall gardening Northern hemisphere folks!
i put all my leaves and my neighbors on my veggie garden every year. this year im trying to make some leaf mold.
Hi Jim - I'm breaking down my leaves and putting them back into flower beds. To have everything look tidy, do I also need to add pine straw once the leaves are all down? Or is that too much? Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!
We do throw our grass clippings in the beds as a mulch. I like a garden neat and tidy, so the leaves must go. It would make me crazy if our garden looked messy. 😂
We rake some of our leaves and grind them in a leaf mulcher. Free mulch! Hubby just mows over others.
Thanks Jim, great information!! 🍂🍁
Jim I was recently gifted some aged sheep manure from a farmer friend. Is it ok if i go ahead and put it in my beds now even though everything is going to sleep? My soil is mostly clay and I'm trying to improve it with compost and mulch.
It's SO MUCH less work to mow my lawn and mulch the leaves in than to rake them, blow the, bag them, haul them, etc... I have no idea why that's not the standard approach. This is from someone who does try to maintain a perfect stand of turf.
Awesome video 👌 Thanks for sharing this information 🤗 I love 5 minute Fridays 😊
I agree, thanks sir.
Welcome to my neighborhood! I live just outside of Prescott. Where were you in this video. Looks familiar!
I usually mow them and use as mulch for the grass, etc.
Due to voles, I rake leaves for a pile of compost in a raised bed. But I know leaves make best compost. When voles are gone I will leave leaves in place.
I’ve always shredded them and used for mulch or if it’s dry and not too deep just mulch it into the lawn and I do keep a nice lawn. If I backed up to woods I would definitely just blow it all into there and be done with it as ik many people that do
I have loads of leaves every year from a large maple and several oaks, and have always tried to use them for either making compost or mulching. But now I'm wondering after watching another gardener's video (different state) where "jumping worms" were mentioned, and a caution was given about leaves attracting them. So, my question is, should I be concerned about using them as mulch here in Western NC?
Hey Jim,
Can golden falls redbud live in a container?
What a beautiful example of our Creator’s wisdom. Thanks for describing it so well!
I got acres and acres of free mulch LOL!!!! Thank you trees!!! 🌳 🤍🤍🤍🪴🪴🪴
My red oak leaves are very leathery. They don’t break down over winter. Should I still leave them?
He showed breaking them down somehow-mowing over, etc. if you have a lot. Then spreading them back over to break down to turn into compost. If not that many, leave them.
I do not put any leaves to the curb, I’ve got two massive silver maples and unfortunately a large Norway maple that is invasive here, but provides much needed shade. Niagara region, Ontario Canada. 🇨🇦
The leaves I love, the acorns are a bit of a hazard though 😊
C'mon squirrels! 😂
We have jumping worms. They say not to leave them(ompaceint gardener😮)
🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁