Mulching with gum leaves

[Willo50]

Are gum leaves good effective mulch

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Willo50. It's terrific to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about mulch.

Yes, gum leaves can be used as mulch, and they do offer some benefits, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Gum leaves are lightweight and break down relatively slowly, so they help retain moisture and suppress weeds, but they can sometimes form a dense, water-repellent layer if applied too thickly. It’s best to use them in a thin layer and mix them with other mulch materials, like bark chips or sugar cane mulch, to improve water penetration and nutrient content.

One thing to note is that fresh gum leaves can be slightly acidic, which generally isn’t a problem for most garden plants, but it’s something to consider if you’re mulching around more sensitive species. Overall, they’re an effective, free, and natural mulch option, especially when combined with other organic matter.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell