Fall Leaves and Pumpkins: A Guide to Mulching and Composting

As the crisp fall air settles in, the vibrant colors of autumn leaves fill our yards and pumpkins grace our porches. While many of us enjoy the seasonal beauty, the inevitable task of raking leaves and discarding pumpkins can feel like a chore. But instead of tossing them in the trash, why not turn them into an opportunity to nurture your garden and reduce waste? Mulching and composting these fall treasures can have lasting benefits for your landscape and the environment.

Mulching Leaves: A Natural Blanket for Your Lawn

Raking leaves can be a time-consuming, task. Instead of bagging up those leaves and sending them off to the landfill, consider mulching them directly into your lawn or garden. This helps the leaves break down naturally, adding rich organic matter to the soil.

Simply use a mulching mower or a lawnmower with a mulch setting to shred the leaves into smaller pieces. The fine, shredded leaves will decompose quickly, improving soil structure, promoting healthy grass growth, and helping retain moisture—especially important as the weather gets colder. You can also mulch leaves around garden beds to protect perennials and add nutrients to the soil over the winter months.

Composting Leaves and Pumpkins: Turning Waste Into Black Gold

Both leaves and pumpkins make excellent additions to your compost pile. Leaves are rich in carbon, making them a perfect companion to the nitrogen-rich materials like kitchen scraps, grass clippings, or coffee grounds that are often composted.

Pumpkins are another valuable source of organic material that can enrich your compost. Simply chop the pumpkins into smaller pieces to help them break down faster and mix them with your other compostable materials. The result? A nutrient-dense compost that can boost the health of your garden soil come spring.

Why Choose Mulching or Composting?

Opting to mulch or compost your fall debris has significant environmental benefits. Instead of contributing to landfill waste, you’re creating a valuable resource that enriches the soil beneath your feet. Mulching adds nutrients back into your lawn and composting produces valuable organic material that can improve soil health for years to come.

As you rake those golden leaves and carve those pumpkins, remember that they don’t have to be just waste—they can be transformed into sustainable resources for your garden. Visit us at acswd.org If you’d like to purchase a compost bin or learn more about composting.