{"id":929,"date":"2021-10-15T13:01:54","date_gmt":"2021-10-15T13:01:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/?p=929"},"modified":"2023-02-01T20:56:14","modified_gmt":"2023-02-01T20:56:14","slug":"leafmould-how-to-turn-fallen-leaves-into-gardeners-gold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/leafmould-how-to-turn-fallen-leaves-into-gardeners-gold\/","title":{"rendered":"Leafmould: How to Turn Fallen Leaves into Gardener\u2019s Gold"},"content":{"rendered":"
Have you felt that sudden, distinct change in the air? That crispness that only begins to appear as October moves into November? Maybe you notice that the lush green of your shrubs and trees transform into the most vibrant reds, browns, and yellows. It\u2019s leafmould season.<\/p>\n
Sure, autumn is a sign that the summer is over. But there’s definitely a pay-off as the nights draw in and the temperature drops: the colours of autumn are a sight to behold.<\/p>\n
However, leaves on your lawn is a BIG no-no. If you leave them to decompose over the winter, you’ll find that most of your grass will have died come spring.<\/p>\n
So, dust off that trusty rake<\/a>, and gather the leaves. But don\u2019t instantly chuck them in the compost heap. Leafmould is a valuable mulch and an excellent soil improver. This article explains how to make it and what to do with it once you\u2019ve created that lovely, crumbly, nutritious soil.<\/p>\n Mulch is a layer you place over the surface of your soil. It can be organic matter, such as fallen leaves, leafmould, or chipped barked. Or your can buy manufactured “fleece\u201d or plastic lining that keeps the earth warm.<\/p>\n Mulching minimises weeds – for precisely the reason you DON’T want to leave leaves on your lawn (there’s a tongue twister for you!). The mulch layer creates a barrier between the sunlight and the soil, which can suffocate your lawn.<\/p>\n But a mulch layer is excellent for your flowerbeds, with a variety of benefits:<\/p>\n You can just rake any fallen leaves into your flowerbeds, and it will happily decompose over time while protecting and feeding your plants. But it can look a little scruffy, so you could – alternatively – gather your leaves together and create Leafmould.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Leafmould (aka leafmold) is often referred to as \u201cGardener\u2019s Gold\u201d. Dug into your veg patch or flowerbed, it improves soil structure; spread over your soil, it makes a nutrient-rich mulch; or you can even use it in the spring as potting soil mix.<\/p>\n Leafmould forms from decomposed leaves and acts as an excellent soil conditioner. If your earth is on the heavier side, leafmould lightens it up and adds drainage. But if your soil is sandy and fine, leafmould adds structure, helping the soil retain its moisture.<\/p>\n Leafmould is made from the leaves of deciduous trees – in other words, trees that drop their leaves in the autumn. Most evergreen leaves aren\u2019t suitable for leafmould (but are good for the compost heap).<\/p>\n Fallen autumn leaves have a low nitrogen content and are generally fairly dry, meaning that it takes longer for them to break down than standard compost. This nutritious compound comes about as a result of slow, bacterial decomposition, making a wonderful growing medium for young plants, a great soil conditioner, and excellent mulch.<\/p>\n Firstly, rake up your leaves and gather them together in a cage (see \u201cHow to Build A Leafmould Cage\u201d below). You can use a traditional garden rake<\/a> or a leaf blower (on mulch mode) which sucks rather than blows (and gathers the leaves into a bag attachment).<\/p>\n Any fallen leaves are suitable for Leafmould, although thicker leaves (i.e., horse-chestnut) take longer to break down. Tougher, evergreen leaves are more suited to the compost heap. Pine needles make an excellent acidic leafmould, suitable for placing around ericaceous plants, such as rhododendrons and blueberries.<\/p>\n Avoid leaves from the following trees and shrubs, as they contain the wrong chemical composition for Leafmould:<\/p>\nWhat is mulch?<\/h2>\n\n
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What is Leafmould?<\/h2>\n
How to create your own Leafmould<\/h2>\n