How to get Free Mulch by Composting Your Own Leaves

The following article will teach you how to get free mulch and compost from leaves in your own garden:

If you are like me, you might think you have way too many leaves and is their any way I can mulch leaves or turn them into useful compost. Although fall is one of the most gorgeous times of the year, it can also be one of the most difficult. It is often quite a daunting task to rake up all the leaves. But the good news is composting leaves can be a great way to recycle your leaves and turn them into valuable, reusable, gardening compost.

The 1st step when you want to mulch leaves is to shred them up. This will allow them to break down a lot easier. This can be done using a mulching mower which will help you cut them up into smaller pieces. I usually bag the leaves and then carry them to the composting pile. The ingredients should than be placed in a composting pile or a composting bin and watered and turned on a regular basis. Twice a month is optimal for turning the pile, but plan on turning the pile at least once a month. In all it take about a year to fully compost the leaves. You can also mix them with grass clippings, twigs and organic food wastes such as orange and banana peelings. While making mulch, it is important not to over water it as this could bleach out some of the nutrients in the leaves. Putting the leaves in a composting bin or throwing a tarp over it can be a good way to avoid getting to much rain and protect them from the elements.

Once the mulch leaves have thoroughly decomposed, they will become ideal compost. This means they have broken down and are ready to be reabsorbed into the soil. This compost can be used to fertilize rose bushes, shrubs and young trees.
It is important to note that leaves must me first mulched in order to me composted. Leaf mulch and compost are not the same thing. Mulch is not decomposed at all and can be used effectively as a barrier. Once it has broken down into compost, it acts as an organic fertilizer and not as a weed barrier. What ever the case, you win weather you decide to go with free mulch or compost from your leaves.

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