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Why Pecan Leaves May Not Be Safe for Garden Mulch: Juglone Concerns and Composting Uncertainties

Q: Are pecan leaves good to mulch a garden? Local Cub Scouts will rake leaves at church for our community garden.

Juglone, a chemical in walnut leaves and roots, can interfere with plants underneath. All walnut family members (hickory, pecan) exude varying juglone amounts. Hard to predict how much is in your pecan leaves—varies by variety, weather, season. My bet: not much bad stuff, but I'm not sure I'd say completely safe. Composting degrades juglone but timeline unknown. Better safe: don't use on garden beds.

About Gardening: Mulching a Wildflower Meadow for Moisture Conservation and Reseeding; When to Mulch Container Carnivorous Plants in the Northeast; The Best Mulch for Your Garden: Why Leaves and Living Mulch Win; Mulching Your Vegetable Garden: Materials, Methods, and Benefits; Pecan Leaves as Garden Mulch: Proceed With Caution; Growing Salsify (Oyster Plant) in the South; Using Fall Leaves as Mulch for Perennials: What Works and What Doesn't; Pecan Shell Mulch: Great for Beds, Attracts Wildlife Briefly, Hard on Bare Feet; Leaves as Mulch? Better: Plant a Shade Garden Instead; Best Mulches for Low-Maintenance Vegetable Gardens

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