I planted a row of Maki trees as a hedge.
I did not think very much about it.
The gardener simply recommended them to me.

In the first year, the trees almost died because of lack of water.
But after that, they grew well and stayed green all year.
I feel that Maki trees do not need much care.

However, there was one problem: pollen.
One year in May, my child started to have hay fever.
At first, I did not know the reason.
But the leaves of the juneberry and blueberry next to the Maki trees
became white with pollen, and then I understood.

I learned that cutting new shoots can reduce Maki pollen.
So every April, I start pruning the trees little by little.

One day, I left some of the cut leaves on the ground.
After some time, I noticed that weeds did not grow much in that spot.

Maki leaves are long and light, but they are also hard and straight.
They do not blow away easily in the wind.
Because of this, they make a quiet layer on the soil.

When the leaves overlap, they sit like roof tiles.
They block light softly and keep the soil from drying.
The cut leaves were no longer just garden waste.
They became something useful in my garden.

Around my house, there is a strip of soil like a small bank.
Weeds grow very well there.
Some parts are sloped, and pieces of asphalt fall onto the soil.
It is easy for weeds to grow, but hard to cut them.
If I leave the weeds, snakes may come,
so taking care of the area is difficult.

I usually cut the weeds and throw them away.
But one day, I left the cut weeds on the ground.
Then tall weeds grew less.

This year, I want to try spreading Maki leaves there.
They look more natural than artificial mulch
and they do not blow away.
It feels like a small cycle inside my garden.

Sometimes, cut leaves help my life in unexpected ways.
When I notice the nature of plants,
my daily work becomes a little easier,
and I feel closer to my garden.