Leaf mould ... the unsung hero of the garden
There's fallen leaves everywhere, so now is the time to gather them for leaf mould and I need to make a decision about my dahlias - do they stay in the ground or do I dig them up?
It’s been a windy week, with gusts of up to 25 mph so the garden is covered in fallen leaves. I don’t worry about leaves lying over the garden and where I have to clear paths, I just brush the leaves onto neighbouring beds as a lovely winter mulch, but I do collect some to replenish my supply of leaf mould.
A magical elixir
So what is it? It’s a compost produced by the decomposition of leaves.
And it really is simple to make:
· Collect fallen leaves. You can use leaves from a variety of deciduous trees, but some leaves decompose more readily than others. Oak, beech, lime, and willow leaves, for example, are often preferred.
· Some people like to shred them first to speed up the decomposition process, as it increases the surface area for microbial activity. However, its not necessary, uses fuel and may harm any minibeasts sheltering in the leaves.
· Create a pile of leaves or pop them in a large plastic bag with holes or contain them in a simple wire bin or enclos…
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