Every fall, yards across the country fill up with leaves that most of us rake, bag and send away. Gardeners in the know keep them instead, because in time they rot down into leaf mould, a dark, soft material that works wonders for tired soil. It costs nothing, needs almost no effort, and makes the annual raking session feel far more rewarding. The only real ingredient you need, besides the leaves themselves, is time.
Not every leaf breaks down at the same speed. Oak, beech and hornbeam are the stars, producing beautifully fine leaf mould. Thicker, leathery leaves such as sycamore, walnut and horse chestnut are slow, so run them through a shredder first or toss them on the regular compost heap. Pine needles deserve a separate pile: they make an acidic mix that blueberries, azaleas and camellias love. Gather leaves on a dry, calm day, and skip those from busy roadsides.
Two Easy Ways to Make It
The simplest method is bagging. Stuff damp leaves into old compost or trash bags, poke a few holes for air, tie the tops loosely and tuck them behind the shed. For bigger hauls, build a square or round pen from chicken wire held up by stakes, set it somewhere sheltered so the wind cannot scatter the contents, and keep the pile moist. Running a mower over leaves on the lawn first chops them up and speeds everything along.
Expect to wait about two years for the finest results. Well-aged leaf mould is lovely for sowing seeds or blending into homemade potting mix. Younger, coarser batches still earn their keep as a thick mulch spread over beds between late fall and late winter, as a top-dressing for the lawn, or as a cozy blanket over bare soil. If the pile seems sluggish, turn it now and then and add water during dry spells.
