Making DIY Mulch with Leaves, Wood, Grass, or Pine Needles

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Making your own mulch is a cheap, easy, and eco-friendly way to prevent soil erosion, keep moisture in the ground, prevent weed growth, protects plants from pests, and help soil maintain an even temperature. [1] You can make your own mulch by collecting and repurposing organic matter found in your own yard, including leaves, wood, grass clippings, and pine needles.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Making Leaf Mulch

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  1. Many homes have leafy trees and plants that provide a great mulch source, and leaf mulch is a good all-purpose mulch for your garden. [2] You can either gather leaves by raking up ones that fall in the autumn, or collect the leaves that you prune off plants.
    • Avoid using the leaves from walnut and eucalyptus trees, as these can prevent other plants from growing. [3]
  2. Use a rake or leaf blower to amass all your leaves into a large pile. To prevent damage to the lawnmower blades, pile the leaves on a flat section of lawn. Spread the leaves out into a layer that’s no more than 2 inches (5 cm) thick.
    • Use a shovel and wheelbarrow to collect all the leaves if you don’t have a rake or leaf blower.
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  3. Once the leaves are all piled together in a thin layer, turn on your lawnmower and mow over the pile a few times to chop the leaves into smaller pieces. Continue shredding until the pieces are dime-sized. [4]
    • Shredding the leaves will help them to decompose in the garden, and this will provide the soil with nutrients.
    • You can also use an electric leaf shredder to chop the leaves. Use hedge trimmers to manually shred the leaves if you don’t have anything else.
  4. Once the leaves have been shredded, they're ready to use as mulch in the garden. Extra mulch can be stored in a ventilated barrel, a large bag with air holes, or spread out on a tarp and covered from the elements.
    • Once the leaf mulch is ready, you can also combine it with other mulch materials from around the yard.
    • The longer the mulch is stored, the more nutrients it will lose.
    • Mulch that is stored in low or no ventilation areas will begin to ferment and release high pH toxins, which are deadly to plants.
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Part 2
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Making Wood, Grass, or Pine Mulch

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  1. Wood also makes great mulch, and you can make wood or bark mulch from organic matter from around the yard. Go around your house and collect fallen branches, bark, or tree trimmings that you pruned from your plants. Put on safety glasses and process the wood and bark through a wood chipper to make a mulch. [5]
    • Bark and wood mulch can be used on its own or combined with leaf mulch.
    • Wood mulch is ideal for established gardens and plants, but shouldn’t be used with young plants.
    • You can rent a wood chipper from a hardware store if you don’t have one of your own.
    • Wood decomposes more slowly than leaves, so this would be a good mulch for long term use.
  2. Grass clippings make an ideal addition to leaf mulch, though they aren't as effective when used alone. After mowing your lawn, rake up the grass clippings. Mix the clippings in with the leaf mulch and use a spade or pitchfork to mix them together.
    • If your mower has a bag to collect grass, simply pour the contents of the bag into the leaf mulch when you're done.
  3. Like grass clippings, fallen pine needles can also be mixed with leaf mulch. Pine mulch is best used with acid-loving plants. Rake up needles from around your yard and combine them with the leaf mulch using a shovel or pitchfork.
  4. Newspaper and other types of paper from around the house can also be recycled and turned into mulch. [6] Collect the paper and use an electric shredder or scissors to shred the paper into small pieces. Combine the paper shreds with the leaf mulch and use as normal.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Using Mulch in the Garden

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  1. In summer, mulch will help your gardens retain moisture and keep the roots cool. In winter, the mulch will protect the plants from frost and help to keep the soil warm. Summer mulches will decay over time, but winter mulch should be removed in spring. [7]
    • Ideal summer mulches include leaf mulch, leaf mulch mixtures, and compost.
    • Ideal winter mulches include pine needles, straw, and bark.
  2. In the spring when you start gardening again, remove the winter mulch that protected the gardens during colder weather. You can add the removed mulch to your compost pile.
    • Winter mulches don’t decompose as quickly as summer mulches, so it’s important to remove them in summer so you can add more nutrient-rich mulches to the soil.
  3. Before adding mulch to the garden, go around and pull out all the weeds you find in the bed. Otherwise, the mulch will protect the weeds and allow them to thrive. This will also create unwanted competition for the plants you're actually trying to grow. [8]
  4. Apply the mulch after you’ve finished planting in spring, or when you finish preparing the garden for winter. Use a shovel or rake to spread a 2- to 6-inch (5- to 15-cm) layer of mulch over the garden bed: [9]
    • In shadier areas, use 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) of mulch
    • In sunny areas, use 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) of mulch
    • In really hot and sunny areas, use up to 6 inches (15 cm) of mulch.
  5. After you spread the mulch out over the garden bed, use your hand or a spade to pull the mulch away from the base of the plants. This is especially important in shady areas, because it will protect the plants from mold, rot, and insects. [10]
    • Providing some distance between the plant and the mulch will also allow air to circulate the plant, providing ventilation that is essential for healthy growth.
    • Leave 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) of space between the mulch and the base of the plants, or enough room so the mulch isn't touching the plants. [11]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What is mulch made out of?
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Mulch can be made out of a variety of materials including woodchips, animal manure, straw, leaves, and grass clippings.
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  • Question
    What is the difference between compost and mulch?
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    The main difference is that compost is a mulch made out of exclusively organic materials.
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  • Question
    How do you make mulch out of leaves?
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Shred dry leaves with a mower then place in mulching bin with nitrogen producing material such as grass or bone meal and add water to make mixture wet. Cover bin over the winter and be ready to use mulch in spring.
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      Warnings

      • If you use a wood chipper, follow the directions carefully and wear protective gear, such as gloves, a hat and safety glasses.
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      References

      1. ↑ Tyler Radford. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview. 6 October 2020.
      2. ↑ Tyler Radford. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview. 6 October 2020.
      3. ↑ https://extension.umd.edu/resource/mulching-trees-and-shrubs/
      4. ↑ https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2011/03/E-512_mulching.pdf
      5. ↑ https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2011/03/E-512_mulching.pdf
      6. ↑ https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C816&title=composting-and-mulching
      7. ↑ https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/using-mulch-garden
      8. ↑ https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/using-mulch-garden
      9. ↑ https://njaes.rutgers.edu/FS058/
      1. ↑ https://extension.psu.edu/mulching-landscape-trees
      2. ↑ http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-and-plant-advice/horticulture-care/mulching-trees-and-shrubs
      3. ↑ Tyler Radford. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview. 6 October 2020.

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      You can easily make your own mulch using fallen leaves. Rake the leaves into a thin layer about 2 inches (5 cm) thick, then go over them with a lawnmower a few times to shred them into small pieces. Use your leaf mulch right away or store it in a ventilated bag or barrel. You can also make mulch out of pruned or fallen tree branches and bark. Rent a wood chipper from a hardware store and pass the tree pieces through it to break them into small pieces. Scatter the pieces around the plants in your garden. Grass clippings, pine needles, and shredded paper can all be mixed into homemade mulch too. Use your homemade mulch to help plants retain moisture during the summer and to protect plants from frost during the winter. Spread the mulch out in a layer that's 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) thick over your garden bed. For tips on how to use mulch in your garden, read on!

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Laura Brosz

        Jul 30, 2017

        "Very informative! I almost threw the clippings out, and I have a rather large garden! Step 5 is especially ..." more
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