Question: Should I apply the leaves I rake as leaf mulch immediately, or wait?
Answer:
That depends on the area in which you'll be applying the leaf mulch. You can spread this organic material in vegetable gardens and annual flower beds at will after the gardening season, although it is preferable to prepare the gardens properly first before adding leaf mulch.
But hold off on using leaf mulch in perennial flower beds until the ground over your garden plants has frozen hard. This is important, as a premature application could smother your perennials.
