No More Bagging Fallen Leaves: Mulch Them With An Easy-To-Use Tool You Already Own

For many people, the changing colors of trees are one of the most enjoyable parts of the fall season. However, as pretty as those autumn colors may be, they also bring piles of fallen leaves to your yard. There are many benefits to having trees in your yard, but raking, bagging, and hauling all of it off is a yearly chore. But there might be an easier way to deal with fallen leaves — one that not only requires no bagging but also lets you use the leaves as fertilizer in your lawn or garden.

The trick is an easy-to-use tool you may already own: a weed eater, also called a weed whacker or string trimmer. You can use this to quickly chop the leaves into mulchable bits. There's a catch, though. You'll still need to rake and gather the leaves before shredding them. Trying to chop up leaves with a string trimmer while they're on the ground, and not in a pile, will just send them flying everywhere. While using this tool won't let you skip raking, it's still a potential time saver and an easy way to mulch leaves without a lawn mower.

To shred fallen leaves with a string trimmer, gather them and put them in a tall bin. A plastic garbage can works perfectly for this (plastic will also be far less noisy than metal). Fill the bin about halfway; overfilling it might send leaf bits flying everywhere. Finally, make sure to remove any sticks, rocks, or anything else that could damage your weed eater's string. While wearing gloves and protective eyewear, put your string trimmer into the bin, power it on, and get shredding. And that's it! Your shredded leaves are ready for reuse.

Shredded leaves make great organic mulch. Unlike wood mulch, plant matter like leaves or grass clippings breaks down quickly into organic matter that will nourish the soil, making fallen leaves useful for your garden. You can also use the shreddings as fertilizer for your lawn. If you don't plan to use the chopped leaves right away, you can quickly repurpose them by throwing them on your compost heap.

Another way to reuse your shredded leaves is by making leaf mold. You might not think that allowing fungi to grow on purpose is a good idea, but leaf mold is a great way to give your garden soil a boost. It works like composting: gather the chopped leaves in a bin or pile and let them sit. Fungi will break the leaves down into a soft, soil-like substance that makes a great fertilizer.