Compost for Clean Water

The warm colors of autumn have begun to line Portland’s streets and our neighbors’ yards. Falling leaves may seem like a nuisance but they are full of plant nutrients that are waiting to be returned to your yard’s soil. To help keep these nutrients out of Portland’s waterways, try one of these ways to put this free fertilizer to use:

• Cover your garden beds with the leaves you rake to give your plants an extra boost in the spring. A thick layer of leaves will protect the existing soil in your garden beds from erosion and nutrient loss. It will also break down over the winter and attracting worms and other bugs and bacteria that help create healthy soil. In the spring you can simply mulch over the leaves and your garden is ready for a new productive season.
• Leave them on your lawn. Instead of raking, you can prep your lawn for the winter with one final mow (blades set to 2”). This will help chop the leaves into small pieces which can be left on your lawn. The leaves will break down over the winter adding nutrients and soft organic matter back into your lawn’s soil. For best results, use only a thin sprinkle of chopped leaves as areas that are too thick may kill your grass.
• Compost it! Add your raked leaves, Halloween pumpkins, and other yard waste to your compost pile to create healthy nutrient-rich soil to use in your gardens or topdress your lawn in the spring. If you don’t have your own compost pile, rake your leaves into paper bags for the City to collect. They will pick of your yard waste during November to add to their compost pile.