Every fall, yards across St. Charles and St. Louis transform into blankets of red, gold, and brown. But once the beauty fades, those fallen leaves become a chore and for many homeowners, that means hours of raking and countless bags headed to the curb.

But what if you could turn that “yard waste” into something useful?

With a few simple strategies, you can skip the landfill and turn autumn leaves into valuable resources for your garden and trees. Compost, mulch, and other eco-friendly options can save you time, money, and effort while also improving your soil and benefiting the environment.

Why Not Just Rake and Bag?

Traditional raking and bagging may seem clean and convenient, but it’s not always the best choice for your yard or for local ecosystems.

In many neighborhoods, bagged leaves end up in landfills where they break down anaerobically, releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Plus, when you remove all the leaves, you’re also taking away organic matter that could feed your soil and trees.

By keeping leaves on your property and repurposing them smartly, you’re creating a closed loop that benefits your yard and reduces waste.

Compost Your Leaves for Next Year’s Garden

Leaves are rich in carbon, which makes them an excellent ingredient in your compost pile. When combined with nitrogen-rich materials like grass clippings, fruit and veggie scraps, or coffee grounds, they break down into nutrient-rich compost that can be used in your garden beds next spring, a particularly valuable addition to the high clay content soil in the St. Louis and St. Charles areas.

Here’s how to do it:

• Shred or chop the leaves if possible to speed up decomposition.
• Add in green material to balance the carbon-heavy leaves.
• Keep the pile moist but not soggy, and turn it every couple of weeks to aerate.
• With consistent attention, you’ll have finished compost in a few months, or sooner if conditions are right.

If you’re short on space, even a simple compost bin tucked in the corner of your yard can handle a surprising amount of leaf material.

Use Leaves as Mulch in Beds and Around Trees

Fallen leaves can make excellent mulch, especially in the fall, when your plants and trees need a little extra protection heading into winter.

To use leaves as mulch:

• Rake them into garden beds or around the base of trees.
• Shred them first (with a mower or leaf shredder) to help them break down more evenly and prevent matting.
• Apply a two to four-inch layer, just like you would with bark mulch, keeping material away from the base of trunks and stems.

Leaf mulch helps insulate the soil, retain moisture, and suppress weeds, all while feeding beneficial microbes as it decomposes. It’s a natural, cost-free alternative to store-bought mulch.

Make Leaf Mold — Nature’s Secret Soil Booster

Leaf mold is different from compost. While compost is the result of a microbial breakdown of mixed materials, leaf mold is simply decomposed leaves, broken down slowly by fungi. It’s one of the best soil conditioners you can use, especially in clay-heavy soils like we see in many parts of St. Charles County as well as in the St. Louis area.

To make it:

• Gather leaves into a pile or place them in a wire bin or compost cage.
• Keep the pile moist and let nature take its course.
• After six to 12 months, you’ll be left with dark, crumbly leaf mold that improves soil structure, drainage, and moisture retention.

It’s low-effort, high-reward, and ideal if you don’t want to manage a full compost setup.

Mow and Leave for Quick Lawn Recycling

If you don’t have the time or interest in composting or piling, the easiest option might be right under your feet: just mow over the leaves and leave the shredded bits on your lawn.

When mulched finely with a mower, leaves break down quickly and provide nutrients back to the soil. This method:

• Eliminates raking
• Reduces thatch buildup
• Feeds your lawn naturally

This approach works best when leaves are dry and not too thick. If the layer is heavy, do it in stages or spread the material out before mowing. Also, many lawn mowers will do a better job of breaking down the fallen leaves if you mow at a slower than normal pace.

Eco-Friendly, Budget-Friendly, and Tree-Friendly

At Hansen’s Tree Service, we believe in using what nature gives us. Leaves aren’t just seasonal clutter, they’re a resource. Whether you turn them into compost, mulch your beds, or simply mow and leave, these eco-conscious practices promote healthier soil, reduce waste, and support sustainable landscaping.

Need help improving your soil or protecting your trees through the seasons? Our certified arborists offer science-based, sustainable tree care for homes across the St. Louis and St. Charles areas, as well as around Lake of the Ozarks, and we’re happy to recommend smart seasonal practices that fit your property and lifestyle.

Let’s Keep Your Fall Cleanup Smart and Sustainable

Don’t bag those fallen leaves, use them. Your fall leaves are a free, natural resource just waiting to be put to work in your landscape.

Contact us today for information on mulch, soil care, or a seasonal tree health assessment.