Making the most of your fallen leaves

25 Oct

Buying compost can be expensive and fallen leaves can be problematic if left in the garden, especially on paths as this can become slippery.

But I might have the perfect solution for you….creating your own leaf mould!

What is leaf mould?

Leaf mould is essentially an enricher for your soil. You may often see people refer to ‘mulching’ their gardens or adding organic matter and leaf mould would be one way you can do this.

It is created by collecting fallen leaves during Autumn and letting them decompose creating a nutrient dense material.

How do I make it?

It’s really easy!

1. Collect up your fallen leaves

2. Add them to a crate or sack. You can use plastic bags with puncture holes for air circulation, hessian leaf mould sacks, or create a simply chicken wire structure and top up as you go.

3. Depending on the leaves collected your leaf mold will be ready to use between 18-24 months. The way to know it’s ready is to look out for a dark brown spongey texture and an earthy smell.

4. Add to your compost or use as a soil enricher by using it to mulch your flower beds.

If you are collecting leave such as Horse Chestnut shredding the leaves will help them break down more quickly. However, leaves such as Birch are finer and smaller and so will break down more quickly.

I don’t have space, what can I do?

You really don’t need lots of space to create your own leaf mould and the sacks can be placed down the side of your house or near to a garden shed.

But if you really don’t want to store in your garden and have lots of leaves why not check in with your local allotments?

Lots of allotment holders make their own compost to keep costs down and be more sustainable. Any many are more than happy to take a delivery of your bagged up leaves to add to their composting pile.

This could be the best of both worlds and an opportunity to make new relationships in your local community.

Will you give creating your own leaf mold a go this Autumn?