On Wed, 10 Nov 2004 16:31:39 +0000 (UTC), (Will
Renkel) wrote:


I have several neighbors who are piling their leaves around
the base of their trees. The piles are about 2 feet high
and about 4-5 feet out from the base of the tree.
Can someone enlighten me on the pros / cons of such a process?
I would think it could kill the grass.

A thick layer of leaves will weaken or kill the grass. Piling leaves
around the base of a tree is not a good idea because

- tree bark needs to breathe and should not be covered
- encourages rodents/insects to take up residence
- moisture may lead to harmful mold/mildew

Having said that, leaves are nature's winter blanket and as leaves rot
nutrients are returned to the soil. I may pile leaves on a tree or
shrub that needs extra protection, but not an established tree.