How to Make Leaf Mold in 3 Easy Steps:Bag it, Leave it, Use it!

Making leaf mold can be done in 3 easy steps. Store your leaves for a season or two and use on your garden as mulch or as a soil conditioner.

Autumn is a busy month in the garden. This is time when the spent annuals need pulling up and the autumn leaves need to be raked up. But don't see this as a chore, see your autumn leaves as a blessing. It is a wonderful opportunity to take these leaves and turn them into leaf mold.

In the past people have take their rubbish and burnt it, and this included the autumn leaves. However, we know now that not only does this practice cause air pollution, but it really prevents us from taking advantage of having potential free mulch or soil conditioners for our garden.

Making leaf mold is easy, the only thing you need to be is patient. But the best thing is, unlike compost, all you need to do is to wait for it to do its thing. There is no turning to be done, and no need to fret as to whether you have the correct balance of materials.

Rake up your leaves, stuff them into large, plastic bin liners and puncture them on the sides. Then wet the contents well with a hosepipe before tying the bags up and leaving them in a hidden part of your garden. Oak, alder and hornbeam will soon rot down, while sycamore, beech, horse chestnut and sweet chestnut take a little longer.

Leave your bags until the following spring if you want mulch for your garden, or leave for another year if you want a fine tilth as a soil conditioner.