Hit the Dirt; Autumn Leaves are Good Soil

Hello and welcome once again to hit the dirt. In my mind nothing quite captures the essence of the changing seasons as well as early autumn here in New England. The breathtaking waves of color are now cascading to the ground. Unfortunately after their magnificent final act ending with a fluttering dive to the ground the leaves tend to be treated by most folks as mere trash to be raked up bagged and disposed of. To me that is a sinful waste of valuable resources. I cringe whenever I see big plastic bags full of leaves sitting by the curbside destined for the landfill. As I see it these fallen leaves offer us Maine gardeners. One of our best potential sources of homegrown fertility. A truly self-sustaining gardening system is one of the primary goals I'm working towards being able to grow food for oneself and others without having to buy or bring in external sources of fertility. This for me one of the ultimate challenges in a world of rapidly diminishing resources. The implications are profoundly important. Perhaps the best place to look for models for such a self-sustaining system is in the natural ecosystems for it is there that the soils are

built up out of the parent bed rock material in the first place. Basically it is the action of the microbes in conjunction with the plants that utilize the rock minerals along with the sunlight and water to over time produce fertile soil with cover crops. Gardeners are applying the same concept to their gardens but the trees offer us another possibility here in Maine. The climax community of a non wetland ecosystem is a forest that is barring human interference and other major disturbances almost all of Maine would revert back to tree cover over time. And if you have ever noticed how dark and rich in organic matter the ground is in a mature woods. Then the idea might click in our climate and geography. Trees are one of the primary means by which soils are built up naturally and mostly it is that you can fall in leaves which directly add to the fertility. Trees have extensive root systems that often probe down deep into the subsoil and parent rock materials. These roots can absorb dissolve minerals that have Leach down from the surface layers or out of the rocks

the minerals are then drawn up into the leaves and branches. When the shortening cool days of autumn signaled the coming of another winter the deciduous trees shut off the supply of water and minerals to the leaves. This results in the breakdown of green chlorophyll molecules with a disciplined appearance of Korra feels overwhelming green previously hidden colors begin to appear. These other pigments such as carotenoids tannins and anthocyanins which only then become visible are responsible for the spectacular colors you'd eventually they break down to and the leaves turn brown. The trees do recover some of the minerals and nutrients from the leaves before they let go of them for the winter. But what remains to be raked up is still a significant source of minerals and organic matter just collecting a portion of the pollen bounty from a few large trees can go a long way in replenishing the nutrients and organic matter in a garden soil which are removed in the produce we harvest and consume. In fact the average sugar maple has about one hundred sixty thousand leaves and the average

Coke has an astounding seven hundred thousand leaves. When you consider that approximately 400 Oakley's yields one pound dry weight. That means one tree may will drop close to one ton of calcium and carbon rich organic matter. That is a lot of compost or mulch. So this year I encourage you to bring the leaves to the garden. If you have access to a shredder then you want might want to make some of it into mulch. I've found shredded oak leaves to make an excellent mulch which seems to actually deter slugs fairly well. Leaves are excellent compost ingredients to Maple and birch leaves tend to break down relatively quickly. Well oak leaves are slower for quick compost. It is best to shred the leaves as well although given time they will break down whole just fine. They are mixed in with materials rich in nitrogen like kitchen scraps from a newer leaf can make for an excellent winter mulch to spread a nice thick layer over the strawberry or perennial flower beds then cover the leaves with some evergreen boughs to keep the leaves from blowing

away to event the leaves from being compact flat together from the pounding rain and the weight of snow. Try scattering some Twiggy branches in among the leaf layer to keep insulating air spaces intact in the spring. Simply take off the boughs and gather up the leaves for the season's first compost pile. Pine needles are great used as a mulch for strawberry beds on the garden pathways. If you like to chill your garden in the fall that is an excellent time to kill the leaves right in. To help build up the organic matter level. All in all leaves can help make the garden grow in many ways. So if you're going to be raking this month just rake those little treasures right over to the garden. And be sure to thank the trees for their gift. See you next week. And Happy gardening.