Leaf mulch

Tired of raking up leaves? Why not get something back? ...... turn them into leaf mulch!

What is leaf mulch?

Leaf mulch is a rich organic material that can be used in a number of ways around the garden. For example:

• As a potting compost when it is mixed with your homemade compost (to find out more visit our  home composting page.)

• As a simple mulch to keep weeds away from the base of plants, or to protect sensitive roots in the winter.

How does making leaf mulch at home benefit me?

There are are number of benefits to mulching your leaves at home.

• Mulching leaves reduces your environmental impact. By dealing with your waste at home, you reduce the need to transport and process the your waste, which requires energy and fuel.

• Mulching your leaves at home can save you money. As you are reducing the need to purchase compost and mulch from a garden centre, by creating your own.

• By digging the mulch into the soil, it will improve the soil structure and help it retain moisture, which can have a positive impact on your plants and vegetables.

•  By placing leaf mulch around the base of plants, it suppresses weeds by preventing them from taking root around the plant and using valuable moisture needed for growth. 

• By adding a layer of mulch during autumn, plant roots and stems can be protected from harsh winter frosts and splash back (where rainfall hits the soil surface, which can lead to the soil being washed away). 

Please note: Make sure that the mulch does not touch the stems of plants. This can lead to the stem softening, and could make it vulnerable to disease.

How do you make leaf mulch?

    1. Collect your leaves up.

    2. Place them into a sack (this can be black bag or one of Surrey's own leaf mulch bags, please see below for more details).

    3. If you have used black bags, make a few holes to increase air flow and water drainage.

    4. Make sure the leaves are damp, as this will speed up the process.

    5. Leave the bags in a corner of your garden for up to two years.

    6. Check the bags occasionally and add a sprinkling of water to ensure the leaves have not dried out.

    7. Once the leaves have broken down to the desired texture, your mulch is ready to use!

It can take a year to get mulch that you can lay around the base of plants. To get mulch that you can use as a potting mix, it is advisable to leave your bags for up to two years.

Additional Leaf Mulching Information

• By adding a layer of mulch around plants, extra watering will be required. This is because there is an extra barrier for the water to get through to get to the roots.

• The best time to add mulch is mid to late spring and autumn, when the soil is moist and warm.

• Only replace mulch when it has completely rotted away. A build up of mulch can create a hard layer on the surface of the soil, which can prevent water penetration to plant roots.

• Avoid mixing weeds in with the leaves, as the seeds may not be destroyed during the leaf mulching process.

Leaf Mulch Bags

Currently Surrey County Council, nine of Surrey's local councils and Surrey Waste Management, are offering Surrey residents up to 2 leaf mulch bags for their home.

To find out how you can obtain your bags please visit our leaf mulch bag pick up points page.

For further information, please contact the waste minimisation team at Surrey Waste Management on surrey.waste@sita.co.uk or call 01306 748 300.