[Arid_gardener] ficus and orange bells leaves

[Michelle B]

Before I cut back the dead branches of my ficus nitida trees and my orange 
bells, which (like most I am sure) suffered extreme frost damage, I want to 
make good use of all those leaves. They look like they would make a good 
mulch on my vegetable beds. Are there any toxins in the leaves of these 
trees, or any other reason that they should NOT be used as mulch? Otherwise 
they will go in the compost pile.

Thank you for your help!
Michelle, in Avondale