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Mow your leaves instead of bagging them

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1The easiest option is the mower you already own

A light leaf covering can simply be mowed and left in place on the lawn, shredded fine enough to filter down between the blades — a mulching mower does this best, and for light leaf drop it's the fastest method there is: no bags, no hauling.

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2How deep to pile shredded leaves as mulch

Around trees and shrubs, a three to six inch layer of shredded leaves works as mulch; in annual and perennial beds, keep it to two to three inches so you're not smothering crowns.

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3Shredded beats whole every time

Whole leaves mat down into a soggy layer that sheds water and blows around; shredded leaves (run through a mower with a bagging attachment, or any leaf shredder) break down faster and actually stay where you put them.

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4The bigger picture

Tree leaves make up roughly half of all landscape waste, and landscape waste is a real share of the solid waste stream — bagging leaves for the curb spends fuel and landfill space moving nutrients off your own property that your soil could have used for free.

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