I love my free long leaf pine straw mulch......never have to buy mulch, it's very easy to rake and place, and it stays put :)

We have several Oaks and an elm. I like the Oaks but not the elm.

I like the elm leaves because they are lighter and break down faster when used as soil amendment. I prefer live oak leaves, but those don't fall until spring. We have plenty of those around here too. A few live oak leaves fall this time of year, but not as many as in spring.

I'll be raking leaves most of the week to pile up on the beds to protect things. It worked very well last year, but I didn't have as many plants. Another way I use them is to fill boxes and buckets full of leaves, then upend them over shorter plants I want to save and stick a rock on top to hold them down. Works pretty well, as does wrapping some things in Spanish moss. My grandmother used to wrap plants in spanish moss, then put a croaker sack over them and tie it at the bottom. Made for quite a site. I miss her so much. I wish I could find feed bags somewhere to use like she did.