Cedar debris

Our cedars have dumped huge qualities of dead leaf material on our garden, flower beds, lawns etc. Is there any good use for this?

It seems to be more than previous years; maybe a dryer September?

Thanks. Ellis

 

Rake it up and compost it, or use it as mulch.

 

Always been told it kills plants? Have you experienced using it as mulch ?? Ellis

 

I searched for "woodchip mulch" A pdf from Puyallup University states that "Cedar leach allelopathic chemicals that kill other plants" I didn't read the entire article, so I am unable to give more specifics.

 

I would imagine we are talking about Thuja plicata, western red cedar. This has been addressed here on the forums:
http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=59113

Linda Chalker-Scott, Ph.D. writes about this:
http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/~Linda%20Chalker-Scott/Horticultural%20Myths_files/Myths/Allelopathic%20wood%20chips.pdf

Thuja plicata contains chemicals which inhibit insects and decay agents, so is slow to break down. This may make it more effective as a weed suppressing/moisture retaining mulch, but it will be slow to break down and add any nutrient to the soil.