Leafmould production

Leafmould

It’s the time of year when leaves have all fallen from the trees, leaving them looking rather cold and bare. But the trees loss is our gain as from these leaves we can make leafmould.

Leafmould is formed from decaying leaves and produces an invaluable soil conditioner. The best quality leafmould is produced from beech or oak leaves.   All leaves and conifer needles eventually break down into leafmould but leaves from beech and oak trees break down with little assistance and produce the best type of leafmould.

When should you make leafmould?

You can start in autumn when deciduous trees drop their leaves. This is a good time to gather leaves for starting a leafmould pile. Pine needles shed throughout the year, but more so in spring, so need to be gathered gradually.

How to make leafmould

Collect leaves from your own garden or public places. Bear in mind that leaves are easier to collect when the weather is dry and still!

If you are collecting leaves from your lawn, try to use a rotary mower. Using this mower shreds the leaves and hastens rotting but also adds grass clippings, thereby increasing the nutrient value of the leafmould.

Place the leaves into a bin liner, moisten them if they are dry, then pierce holes in the bag with a knife or garden fork, tie the top loosely and stack the bags out of sight for up to two years.

Alternatively, make a square or round frame from chicken wire or similar, supported at the corners or at intervals around the circle with stakes or bamboo canes. Ideally this should be in a sheltered part of the garden to ensure that the leaves are not blown away. Make your leaf heap as large as possible to hasten decay and moisten it periodically if it becomes dry. Most leaves take about two years to break down.

Using leafmould

Good quality, well-rotted leafmould (more than two years old) can be used as seed-sowing compost, or mixed equally with sharp sand, garden compost and good quality soil for use as potting compost.

Poor quality leafmould, or leafmould that is less than two years old can be used as mulch, soil improver, autumn top-dressing for lawns, or winter covering for bare soil.

Tidying the garden has never been so satisfying and good for your plants!