While they often end up in incinerators, fallen leaves have a wide range of environmentally friendly uses.
They can serve as soil cover, although we must note that whole leaves form layers that soak up water like a sponge, preventing both evaporation from the soil and stormwater infiltration. Shredded leaves, however, are perfect since they are sufficiently permeable and fully decompose by spring in a layer of 6 to 8 cm.
Fallen leaves collected throughout our park are placed in temporary storage sites that serve as artificial wintering habitats, sheltering a number of beneficial organisms. Meanwhile, the bottom of such leaf piles starts to decompose, turning into valuable leaf mold we can spread beneath our plants.
Even in an urban environment, we might want to consider building or installing a composter in a secluded corner of our garden. Note that all leaves are compostable but every species has its own decomposition rate and the more diverse our mix is, the higher overall quality we get. Research has also confirmed that one or two handfuls of a carbamide fertilizer will greatly accelerate decomposition, increasing the number of beneficial bacteria while, even more importantly, killing off harmful ascospores. This method, however, requires at least a couple frost-free weeks.
Come check out how the forest thrives in our Bird-Friendly Garden and the outskirts of Bunnyville after we reopen.
Debrecen Zoo and Amusement Park
