Those beautiful leaves that are now blowing from yard to yard can be put to good use. These leaves can be used for winter protection or for improving your garden soil.

I believe that leaves should be mulched and left on the lawn. This will help you deal with all those leaves much easier. But, composting some leaves will be great for improving your soil. You can also use some around your plants for winter protection.

When leaves are used around plants you should use a wire cylinder around your plants to hold those leaves in place. Use leaves around the base of your plants, but do not cover foliage at the base of your evergreens.

Leaves are an excellent source of organic matter. They are slow to break down when added to your compost. Leaves are largely cellulose and this makes them excellent soil conditioners after they decompose.

When making compost with leaves, you will need to add other materials to speed up the process. Chopped leaves will decompose faster than whole ones. Leaves break down faster if layered with soil as they compact.

Because decomposition needs nitrogen to speed up the process you will need to add material. You need about 4 ounces of actual nitrogen for each bushel of packed leaves. This equates to 12 ounces of ammonia nitrate or 2 pounds of 12-12-12 general garden fertilizer.

During cold weather leaves will not decompose rapidly but as warm weather arrives, the process will speed up. Turn your compost over in early spring and again every month until thoroughly decomposed. When space is limited, a few leaves can be applied directly to your garden and plowed under. So put those leaves to good use. The rewards are worth the extra effort.