More Practical Uses for Leaves During the Fall
While fall gives us more leaves than we know what to do with, holding on to some of them instead of raking them all to the curb can prove to be beneficial for a number of reasons. Aside from being excellent fire-starting material and providing cushioning underfoot, you can also benefit from using them for a number of projects around the yard or homestead. Let’s take a look at a few more examples of how you can put fallen leaves to work for you.
Composting
Leaves provide for an excellent source of compost material, and they should be incorporated into every compost pile whenever possible. You can never have too much leaves. They still contain nutrients that sustain trees during the summer, and they can also boost the overall health of your compost heap as well. Leaves can create more space between layers and improve air flow and heat circulation. They also degrade quickly, and their bits can help to agitate other items in the compost pile as it it is mixed. The end result could be faster degradation rates that can help you to reap the benefits of your compost in less time.
Chickens Love Leaves
Leaves provide excellent cover for chicken runs, and they also have enough “bite” to them to keep chickens entertained as they peck their way around for insects. Runs covered in leaves can also help to reduce dust as chickens will scratch the leaves instead of the bare ground. Leaves can also be easier on chicken feet as opposed to mulch as well. Leaves can help to make the surface warmer and softer during the winter, which can help to keep chickens occupied, entertained, happy and ultimately more productive. The continual pecking and scratching will also help to break the leaves down into smaller pieces, which makes for a great addition to your compost pile.
Garden Cover
Leaves can be used as cover for your soil and garden during the winter. This can provide a happy medium between leaving the soil exposed or planting cover crops to prevent erosion and nutrient loss. Leaves will also decompose somewhat over the winter, and mixing portions of the cover in with the soil during the spring can also add nutrients to your garden.
Insulation
You can use leaves for insulating almost anything, from a camper to a cabin or a chicken coop. The easiest way to benefit from this natural and free option is to remove the leaves from their branches before filling bags, sacks or even pillowcases. The more leaves you can pack inside will contribute to their heat-retaining properties. While this won’t compare to the benefits you get from commercial insulation products, it can go a long way toward keeping temperatures regulated and helping to reduce the amount of heat and fuel needed to keep things warm.
Puddle Filler and Mud Control
If you are struggling with mud, puddles and the associated mess they can create, then leaves may be just what you need to solve the problem. Simply fill in puddles and cover muddy areas with a generous layer of leaves. Pack them down and continue to add more until you’re stepping on nothing but leaves. You will be amazed at the effectiveness of this simple trick, and the amount of time and energy normally spent cleaning can be used for other things.
These are just a few more of many uses that we can get from leaves during the fall and winter. This is just another example of how nature provides us with what we need, but it’s up to us to take advantage of these benefits. Try these ideas out for yourself, and feel free to share some other suggestions that you may have as well.
