THE LAST WORD
I then spend most of autumn looking at piles of leaves on pavements, piling up against the side of buildings, and gathering on our lawns and green spaces, and wonder why no one is gathering them up to make leafmould compost, for free?
In an era when we are conscious of reusing and recycling as much as we possibly can to preserve the earth’s limited resources, why do we leave this organic source of beneficial goodness for our soil to rot on areas of ground where it can't be utilised?
Leafmould compost is a valuable addition to any garden, created by the decomposition of fallen leaves over time.
It acts as a soil conditioner, enhancing the structure of both clay and sandy soils. In clay soils, it improves drainage and reduces compaction, while in sandy soils, it helps to retain moisture. Leafmould can hold up to 500 times its weight in water, making it excellent for retaining moisture in dry soil.
More than that though, leafmould fosters beneficial soil organisms like earthworms and mycorrhizal fungi, which improve soil health and nutrient availability, thereby supporting healthier plants.
When used as mulch, leafmould helps suppress weeds and protects the soil from erosion. It also stabilises soil temperatures, benefiting plant roots.
Many people use leafmould as an essential part of their seed potting mix as it is low in nutrients compared to other composts, combining leafmould with other ingredients like sand and compost to create a light, airy, and moisture-retentive seed-starting mix.
Leafmould compost is easy to make and costs nothing but time. I use a very complicated method called the ‘Sweep Up the Leaves and Put Them in Black Bags’ method!
Rake up all the leaves fallen in your garden and pack them in to black or dark coloured bin bags. Leaves like oak, beech, and maple are ideal. Avoid leaves from walnut or eucalyptus trees, as they contain compounds that can inhibit plant growth. You can also pile the leaves into a wire cage or simply heap them in a corner.
Water the leaves in the bag to add moisture and pierce the sides of the bin liners with a garden fork to allow in air. The conversion to crumbly leafmould is much faster if the leaves remain moist.
Place the bin bags behind a shed or garage and forget about them for 12-18 months. This may seem like an age to wait but who remembers the things thrown out of sight behind a shed? Leafmould is primarily created by fungal decomposition, which is slower than bacterial decomposition so it usually takes a year or more for the leaves to break down fully.
Leafmould is an easy-to-make, eco-friendly compost that enhances soil health and promotes sustainable gardening practices. If you have deciduous trees in or near to your garden, you would be raking up the leaves anyway during autumn to keep your garden tidy, so technically you are not giving yourself any extra work and in little over a year’s time, you will have that lovely smug feeling as you spread your own free homemade leafmould around your borders!
You can follow our Editor’s garden chat on her Instagram and LinkedIn feeds to keep up with what she loves in the garden.
