Must Leaves Be Shredded When Creating A No-Dig Garden

Question From: T. Johnston - Michigan, United States
Q: I want to try your no-dig garden to put in a flower bed but I have no shredded leaves to put down first and no way to shred the few leaves I have from last year. Will putting them down and then adding shredded newspaper and then compost on the shredded newspaper work?

A: I would not use shredded newspapers, you may end up with a big mess if they dry out. You can put down the leaves and sheets of newspapers and then cover them with a mix of potting soil, compost and composted pine bark or soil conditioner. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy