Using shredded leaves in the areas you garden seems to be agreeable to earth worms and night crawlers. Night crawlers are a wonderful addition to any garden as they keep the soil from getting tight and restrictive. You do not want your plants trying to survive in tight soil that chokes the plants ability to spread their roots and get nutrients. Shredded leaves will not work well in neater, more formal gardens. Leaves are loose and untidy, but they effectively decompose and add nutrients to the soil. Using shredded leaves to winter your garden is a great idea, however, in the spring, you will want to place a layer of mulch or pine straw on top of these decomposing helpers. If your leaves appear clumped in the spring, give them a little stir before placing a new mulch product on top of them. Without stirring, shredded leaves may prevent water from reaching the plants or may mildew and cause garden problems.
Pine Straw as Mulch
Many gardeners prefer pine straw for mulching flower beds and gardens. Pine straw holds water in the ground and keeps the ground cool. Pine straw will also decompose with time.
One of the biggest advantages of using pine straw is weed prevention. Pine straw prevents weeds better than regular tree mulch. On the long term, pine straw doesn't seem to attract as many garden pests as tree bark does. In areas where termites are a danger, tree bark mulch can be a hazard.
Tree bark mulch does suppress weeds, but it will not prevent them entirely. Pine straw mulching simply does a better job at preventing weeds than tree bark does. Once weeds flourish at all in your tree bark mulch, you will have a hard time getting rid of them no matter how much you pull or treat them with pesticides.
Pine straw can be piled on thick for less cost. Tucking pine straw around the edges of your garden and flower beds will help it look neat. Pine straw also holds the neat appearance longer than mulch does.
To tuck pine straw for a neat appearance, turn your shovel backwards and push back with it. You can also ask a landscaper friend how to do this maneuver.
Shredded Leaves as Mulch
Shredded leaves are certainly a natural mulch. When leaves fall in the autumn or winter, you can collect them and place them under and around your bushes or in your flower beds. This practice will help insulate your plants for the long winter ahead.
Soil pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline your soil is. The number you get when you test your soil's pH can tell you whether your plants are likely to thrive in your garden spot or not. Luckily, if the answer is no, there are ways to change your soil's pH and make your garden into a more hospitable environment for your vegetables, flowers and lawn. |
 | Plants make their own food, but they sometimes need a helping had from fertilizer. By conducting a soil test and knowing how to read a fertilizer bag, you'll be able to make choices that benefit your plants instead of harming them. |
 | The types of soil in your garden are a key element in whether it succeeds or fails. |
 | |&&|Sandy soil quickly loses water and nutrients. Learn which plants will thrive in these challenging conditions. |
In order to grow successfully, your plants need good soil. This includes the right drainage, pH balance, and conditions. Without good soil, valuable time and investment will probably be lost. Since most soils need some amount of improvement, here are some things you can do to help them along. |
