Last fall I didn't buy my straw or salt marsh hay as usual. I usually buy a few bales to mulch my paths in the spring. Instead I made a container of chopped leaves to put in the paths come spring. I've never done it like this before, but it seems like a good solution. The leaves are free and local. The leave will add to the soil over time. The downside I saw was that it was a lot of work to chop all the leaves up with the lawn mower.
So Thursday I finally got the time to mulch the paths. Now I see another downside. I loved the look of the straw, but I don't like the look of the leaves nearly as much. I know they will mat down over time, but it looks messy to me. What do you think?
I usually do the leaves and then a layer of grass clippings the next time we mow. It keeps the paths "marked", the weeds out, and I figure its good for the soil (and free!) so everyone wins! Don't worry about the look..in another month or two when the garden is full of green the path it'll look great and the pathway will just blend away... :)
ReplyDeleteI think it looks very natural!
ReplyDeleteCan't say I'm a fan of mulching paths with leaves. I'm not bothered by the look as much as the practicality of them. But hey, they're free and better than trampling dirt.
ReplyDeleteHe-who-mows always BACKS the mower over leaves. It seems to chop them finer. Now that they are chopped, they'll break down quickly in warm weather and as Marie said, soon they'll fade into the background. It is a very earth-friendly project.
ReplyDeleteI think they look fine, and when the veggies are grown who'll be looking at the paths anyway!
ReplyDeleteI mulched the entire area behind my garden shed with leaves. I'm not liking it much, as every time I open the shed doors, the leaves blow in. If they are wet, they stick to my shoes and get tracked into the house. I had straw mulch there last year, and really liked it. I think I'm going to rake up these leaves and use them somewhere else...to mulch the raised beds or to add to the compost. I wonder how they would work to cover my potatoes?
ReplyDeleteI kind of like it but I get the straw love. I just bought a big bale too, but not for paths, for chickens!
ReplyDeleteI love the leaves!!! They will break down more over time. Another free and lovely muclh is composted hore bedding. You might want to find out what your local horse shows do with their left over horse bedding.
ReplyDeleteI think it looks just fine. I would just be concerned that they would either blow away (if dry) or cling to my shoes if wet.
ReplyDeleteAT least they aren't weeds! I think they look fine- very natural!
ReplyDeleteNow they look a bit fluffy but as they break down, you paths will look nice and neat.
ReplyDeleteWe had some spring clean work done a couple of weeks ago. The landscapers came with a huge chipper. I should have asked to keep the wood chips but forgot. Instead, I had to go out a purchase another bale of straw.
Grass clippings are an interesting idea. It would change the look a lot.
ReplyDeleteRibbit, it does at that
Miss M, true
NellJean, Mine are chopped as well as my mower lets me without spending a ton of time. I basically go back and forth over them.
Jan, true, but right now I am looking at them. I'd really like a good rain to mat them down a bit and I think we will get one.
Annie's Granny, They do blow around a bit, but not as much when they are chopped. I mulched one section of the perennial bed with chopped leaves last fall and they stayed very well. They had just a little lip on the bed and it was enough to keep them there. I hope sticking to my shoes doesn't happen much. We will see. I have that trouble with the chopped straw too.
Stefaneener, If I had chickens I'd probably try both straw and leaves and see how it went.
kitsapFG, I will see if I have a problem with that. They haven't blown away yet.
Taylor, natural is good
Thomas, too bad. I've asked them to leave chips before. They told me they will only empty it when full. I'm thinking it is a project to disconnect and reconnect. But they did say they would come and dump the whole load for me if I wanted (they pay to get rid of it). At the time I elected not too. I didn't need that many chip.
I have never used leaves between my beds. I have mulch between some and stone paths between others. My husband put the stone down for our wedding reception at our home. I am sure the leaves will break down and work out fine.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a deeply psychological thing... We are always taught that "the leaves need to be raked up". So that's why it looks "messy" at first. But in reality, I think it's great that you chose a local material!
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