The meteorologists who forecast the outside conditions for the next few days have been hyperbolic about the coming cold front. After the rain and stormy weather, the temperature readings are predicted to noticeably fall in panhandle Florida and other parts of the country.
Here in the northern hemisphere, it is January and cold weather is to be expected, even in the northern part of this marginally semi-tropical state. Alas, more than the mercury (or some other relevant liquid in a thermometer) will be dropping.
The predicted cold winds, with their stiff velocity, will be separating leaves from deciduous trees. Sweetgums, hickories, dogwoods, some oaks and more will be contributing to the leaf litter on the forest floor and in home landscapes.
No doubt by now the leaves and pine straw have been raked at least once. All flowerbeds on the homestead have been refreshed and there is a sufficient level of mulch covering the root zones.
So, the question is “What is to be done with this new supply of mulching material?”
Dig a trench in the garden where vegetables will be planted later and fill it with leaves which are blown down during the January storm.
There are several answers which will convert this potential waste material into a valuable resource, keeping it out of the county landfill.
The first step is to measure the mulch layer in flowerbeds. If it is currently less than four inches deep, add some of the new leaves and pine straw to it.
Four inches is the accepted standard for suppressing weed growth in the beds. In only a few weeks the material will settle, so add some more.
If both leaves and pine straw are available, place the leaves first and then top with pine straw. The needles tend to interlock and resist being blown away by the next gusty system which passes through the area.
Another possibility is to trench compost in the vegetable garden. This will require more physical labor with the raking and transporting, so hopefully there is an agreeable and energetic teenager in residence to assist.
Dig a slit trench along the row where vegetables are typically planted and fill it with leaves and pine straw. It is preferred to remove sticks, branches and pinecones as they can be the germination point for mushrooms which can attract some of the undesirable insects later on.
Mound up the leaves above the soil line as they will decay, shrinking in size. Cover the mulch with garden soil and wait for it to decay.
The leaves in the trench should be mounded above the soil line as they will shrink during decay. The organic material improves water holding capacity and adds usable nutrients for the plants.
The leaf material will add organic matter to the garden beds. As it breaks down, it will attract earthworms which will consume and convert the mulch into usable nutrients for garden plants.
The presence of the organic mulch improves the water holding capacity of the soil. It will also acidify the soil which can be a positive or a negative.
For gardens close to the coast which typically have alkaline pH levels, the acidification is a major benefit. For places with acidic soils currently, a little garden lime may be needed to bring the pH in line with the needs of plants.
The way to know for certain is to take a soil test a few months after composting.
Lastly, if there is still a supply of leaves and pine straw, find a convenient and out-of-site area to compost the mulch. It can be used later to enrich the soil of flowerbeds and gardens.
With a little effort and creativity, a negative can be turned into a positive resource, and the garden will be all the happier and healthier for it.
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