Raking up leaves is very tedious. If your garden offers the necessary capacities, it is advisable to leave the fallen leaves in the beds. The leaves will soon decompose by themselves, saving you a lot of work. In this guide you will find out what you have to consider and how the decomposition actually works.
Lots of leaves in a pile decompose very slowly
What happens during leaf decomposition?
The leaves of the trees are a natural product. Since a biotope lives from a cycle of thriving and dying, they produce a new starting material when they decompose. On the ground, they serve as food for the smallest microorganisms. These eat through the dead leaves and thus shred the leaves in a natural way. As the leaves are separated from the water veins of the tree as the leaves fall, they gradually dry up, which further promotes the decomposition process.
particularities
The foliage of the walnut tree is an exception. Here, decomposition can even take several years. This is due to the tannins it contains, so-called tannins. They noticeably slow down the decomposition process. Want to learn more about storing and handling walnut leaves? Then you will find a lot of useful information in this article.
Promote decomposition of foliage
In autumn there is often a lot of leaf waste. Most of the time, even a compost heap doesn't provide enough space for storage. Here are some tips on how to promote decomposition and thus save space:
- Shred the leaves in the shredder beforehand
- Use foliage elsewhere (see below)
- Use compost accelerator (available in specialist shops)
Utilize decayed foliage
When shredded, the leaves are useful for a variety of purposes:
- for fertilizing
- for mulching
- as antifreeze
If you use your foliage as fertilizer, consider enriching the leaves with organic matter. Because the trees withdraw their nutrients from the leaves before leaf fall, they contain few beneficial ingredients.