How to Mulch Your Lawn With a Leaf Without Digging up the Grass
Switching your yard usually means loosening the grass, plowing and fertilizing the soil to prepare for new vegetation, but why not just fill it up? Leaf mulching uses a simple form of composting to change the purpose of your lawn, revitalizing the soil and creating nutrients for new plants. Using cardboard, green compost and mulch, you can transform your lawn into a new ecosystem that conserves water and nourishes plants naturally. Here’s how to mulch your yard with leafy mulch without deep landscaping.
What you need for yard mulch
Leaf mulching works just like any other type of composting — it uses a natural decomposition process to fuel new shoots. When a tree falls or leaves pile up, they break down and release nutrients into the soil to create new life. Leaf mulching uses a composting process by covering existing grass with other organic materials that decompose over time, creating nutrient-rich soil. TikToker Brandon Gentry uses store-bought compost:
For successful leaf mulch, you need:
- Cardboard boxes or rolls of recycled cardboard or newspaper
- Green compost (wood chips, leaves, plant clippings, hay)
- Hose (or water source)
- Organic mulch
Depending on the size of the lot you want to remodel, you may need a lot of cardboard, compost and mulch. Most mulch is sold in cubic yards , so you need to measure the area to determine how much you need. Country Living offers a handy formula where you can buy the right amount for your lawn: square feet x desired depth / 324 = cubic yards needed.
How to mulch a lawn with leaves
Before you start, check your soil to find out its mineral composition. The results will reveal any pre-existing problems or effects from prior tillage and help you make informed decisions about your lawn’s needs.
The sheet mulching process begins by preparing the site by removing dead bushes or plants so that you even have room to stack cardboard or newspaper. Pretty much anything you remove can be used in a green compost bed. Use a hose or spray gun to completely wet the grass, then place the cardboard or newspaper where you want it, making sure to remove any tape, stickers, or other inorganic material from the boards. The cardboard should overlap each other by at least six inches to prevent weeds and grass from breaking through. Take the hose again and wet the cardboard thoroughly. After the cardboard is wet, spread a layer of organic green compost to completely cover the cardboard – you need the compost layer to be at least two inches thick.
At this stage, you can plant the baby plants in the compost bed . As the plants grow, the roots will push through the cardboard, and while the bottom layer decomposes, it will provide the plants with nutrients to strengthen their growth. Then lay the desired mulch on top of the compost. This part adds a layer of extra moisture retention for the composting process below and reduces the amount of water your plants will need.