16/05/2026
Stop throwing your autumn leaves away 🍂🚫 (you’re wasting free garden gold)
Save this before your next yard clean-up 👇
🌿 Protect plants from frost
Create a thick layer of leaves (5–10cm) around the base of plants, veggie beds, roses, and young trees. This acts like a natural blanket, helping regulate soil temperature and protecting roots from harsh Canterbury frosts. It is especially useful for tender plants that struggle with those cold overnight drops. Be sure to keep a small gap from the stem to prevent rot
🐾 Play piles (then reuse them)
Collect leaves into piles for kids and dogs to jump, run, and play in. Once the fun is done, rake them back up and use them in garden beds or compost so nothing goes to waste.
♻️ Boost your compost
Leaves are a valuable “brown” material for compost. Mix them with “green” waste like food scraps or grass clippings to create a healthy balance. This helps prevent smells, speeds up decomposition, and gives you rich compost for your garden later on.
🎨 Nature crafts
Leaves are perfect for simple, low-cost activities. Try leaf rubbing (with a coloured pencil), pressing them for art projects, or using them as stamps with paint. It is a great way to get kids outside and using natural materials instead of store-bought craft supplies.