Question:
What do I do with fallen leaves in my flower beds?Answer:
Leaves are an excellent resource for the garden. They break down to add organic matter and nutrients to the soil. As they decompose, they act as a mulch suppressing weeds and helping to maintain consistent soil moisture. Additionally, they can help insulate the ground over the winter protecting perennials from extreme cold temperatures.
Managing Fallen Leaves in Garden Beds
For the most part, leaves in perennials beds, under shrubs, and in other mulched areas do not have to be removed. Even thick layers of fallen leaves will break down over the winter leaving you with an inch or two of mulch the following spring. It is beneficial to keep a thick mat of leaves from forming over the crowns of perennial plants. Keeping leaves off evergreen perennials, like creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) and Lenten rose (Helleborus), and away from the base of shrubs and trees is also beneficial.
This may require some redistribution of the leaves from areas that have thick leaf layers to other garden areas that have fewer leaves.
