FIMBY: What to do with all those fallen leaves?

This is another installment in our Food in My Back Yard series dedicated to edible gardening.

So much rain, so many leaves. If your garden is like mine, you’re wondering what to do with a lot of soggy fallen foliage (and avoiding stepping in mud).

In the City of Trees, I’m not alone in this quandary. Sacramento got walloped by a 1-2 punch of very wet, windy weather. According to the National Weather Service, we soaked up 2.6 inches of rain since Nov. 13 including 1.16 inches that fell Sunday night and Monday. Lower  temperatures and gusty winds accompanied those twin atmospheric rivers, bringing down an avalanche of leaves.

Tuesday has given us a sunny break; it’s tempting to jump outdoors and start digging. (This is fall planting season.)

But soil needs a chance for all that rainwater to either evaporate or percolate down. Stepping on or digging in wet soil can compact it – squeezing out any air spaces that are vital for microbes and healthy roots.

Be patient and let the soil drain; it will be dig-able by the coming weekend, when sunny weather is forecast.

But what to do with all those leaves? Start by thinking like Mother Nature. It’s not a mess – it’s mulch!

Trees drop leaves, in part, to keep their roots cozy in winter. The fallen foliage also replenishes nutrients in the soil.

Dropped leaves on the patio aren’t doing my trees any good. But as mulch or compost, those cast-off leaves will benefit the trees and the rest of my garden, too.

Smaller leaves, such as birch, pistache or elm, make excellent mulch as is; just rake and place 2 to 3 inches deep around trees and shrubs.

Or chop larger leaves with a lawn mower (a couple of passes usually is sufficient) and use as mulch. It will last through the winter, keeping down weeds while retaining even soil moisture. Some waxy leaves, such as magnolia, may take several seasons to break down.

One note on turning fall foliage into mulch: Don’t use any diseased leaves. If the foliage is showing signs of mildew or other fungal disease or pests, discard it in the trash – not the green waste or your garden. Otherwise, you’re recycling problems along with the leaves.

Also note: Some species contain chemicals in their foliage that can inhibit other plants from growing. It’s nature’s way of eliminating competition; those fallen leaves will keep other plants from sprouting near the mother tree. Eucalyptus and black walnut trees are notorious for this trait; don’t use their leaves as mulch or compost fodder except around those specific species.

It’s not just deciduous trees dropping leaves right now. Coastal redwoods also are shedding a lot of brown needles.

Although they’re evergreens, coastal redwoods are susceptible to drought. Some dropping of older, less-efficient needles is normal in late summer or fall. But if newer needles on the tips are browning, that can indicate stress. Consider having an arborist check the tree’s health.

Meanwhile, those fallen needles make durable mulch, especially for acid-loving shrubs such as azaleas or camellias.

Add fall leaves to your compost pile, too. Plus save some for later.

Dried leaves are a necessary ingredient in compost. To promote rapid breakdown in compost, an even amount of “browns” (dried leaves, straw or other dry ingredients) are mixed with “greens,” such as freshly cut grass, spent vegetable plants or kitchen waste.

While dried leaves are plentiful now, come spring they’ll be in short supply. So, bag up some brown leaves to add to your compost pile in March or April to keep it “cooking.”