It’s strange that in the fall we rake leaves and put them into plastic bags or to the curb to be hauled away at a cost to us, and then in the spring we spend money on bags of mulch or compost to add to our gardens.

It is time to rethink our attitude towards leaves for the benefit of our gardens as well as the surrounding environment.

Leaves, with some patience but little effort, can be turned into an excellent soil amendment or mulch that costs nothing but is worth everything to your plants.

There are two basic approaches to recycling leaves.

One is shredding to make mulch or to let them break down into the lawn.

The other is piling whole leaves to transform into leaf mold.

For shredding leaves, a lawn mower is the only tool needed. A mulching mower works best, but a regular mower will do the job.

Mow over the leaves on the lawn to shred them, walking or riding slowly to give the mower blades time to chop the leaves.

This is easier if the leaves are relatively dry and not piled too thickly.

You may need to go back over the leaves in a cross direction from the first cut to shred the leaves more finely.

A layer up to about one-half inch in depth is beneficial to the lawn.

Shredded leaves decay more quickly than whole leaves.

The small leaf pieces on the lawn break down, adding organic matter and returning essential nutrients to the soil to be taken up by the grass.

Shredded leaves can also be applied as a two- to four-inch-thick layer of mulch around trees and shrubs or on perennial beds.

Because they are shredded, they tend to mat down less than whole leaves.

Watering the leaf mulch after application will help it to stay in place.

As the leaves break down, essential nutrients are recycled in the soil to become available again to the plants.

The second method is turning them into leaf mold.

Essentially decayed leaves, leaf mold is similar to compost.

Although it is not high in nutrients, it is an excellent soil amendment that improves the structure of the soil, increases soil water retention, returns essential elements to the soil, and benefits the organisms in the soil that decompose organic matter.

To make leaf mold, form a pile of leaves, pack them down, water them and wait a couple of years.

Although not essential, a wood or wire bin, at least three feet in height, helps keep the leaves contained, or use a large plastic bag or old trash can.

Fill the bag or can with leaves, moisten them, loosely close it (allow some airflow), and let it sit.

You can also pile excess leaves in an out-of-the-way corner of your yard.

If you have a compost bin, you may have too many leaves in the fall to fit in the bin, so stockpiling those leaves in a separate pile is a way to save this resource.

In the spring and summer, you can transfer some of your leaf stockpile into your compost bin as you need “brown” materials to layer with fresh “green” materials.

The remainder of the leaf stockpile will gradually shrink in size as the leaves slowly decay to form leaf mold.

You can speed up the decay process from years to six to 12 months by shredding the leaves, turning the pile occasionally, adding water occasionally, or covering the pile with a tarp. It will happen even if you do nothing.

Leaves are a gift of nature waiting to happen.

“Growing Green” is contributed by Diane Dorn, Lehigh County Extension Office Staff, and Master Gardeners. Information: Lehigh County Extension Office, 610-391-9840; Northampton County Extension Office, 610-813-6613