Self-Sufficient.co.uk
Find out more about Self Sufficiency
Latest Articles
Home Beekeeping
Find out more about keeping bees in your garden for honey
grow your own
15:40, 4th Jan 2012
Storing Apples
Find out how to store apples
fruits
12:23, 28th Jul 2011
Pear and Lemon Jam
Instructions for making pear and lemon jam
preserving
14:59, 27th Jul 2011
Making Apricot Jam
Instructions for making your own apricot jam
preserving
15:44, 26th Jul 2011
Grow and Make Harissa Paste
A recipe for harissa paste with ingredients you can grow yourself
grow your own
11:57, 30th Jun 2011
Grow Your Own Chilli Peppers
Find out how to grow your own chilli peppers
grow your own
16:06, 17th Jun 2011
Dry Chilli Peppers
Find out how to dry fresh chilli peppers
preserving
16:05, 17th Jun 2011
Make Lavender Biscuits
Find out how to make delicious fragrant lavender biscuits
foraging
12:22, 16th Jun 2011
Make Your Own Leafmould
Find out how to make your own leafmould to improve your soil
Make Your Own Leafmould
grow your own | general
If more than a few fallen autumn leaves are added to a compost heap they will not rot down into the compost, and will slow down the composting process. This is because composting is the result of the action of bacteria, but dead autumn leaves degrade with the action of fungus. It is therefore necessary to recycle large quantities of fallen leaves separately from the compost.
Making Leafmould
Leafmould is the name given to rotted down autumn leaves, and it is used as a general soil improver, as a mulch, or in potting mixes. Leafmould can be made from any fallen brown leaves in the autumn, and it could not be simpler to make.
In the autumn collect fallen leaves using a rake or leaf blower. If the leaves are dry spray them with a hosepipe to ensure that all the leaves are moist to promote rotting. Pack the leaves into sturdy black bin bags, tie the top, and stab a few holes into the bags using a garden fork. Leave the bags out of the way for at least one year and your leafmould is ready to be used.
Using Leafmould
Leafmould is ready when the leaves crumble when squeezed in your hand. Depending on the variety of leaves used, this can take anywhere from one to two years. For example, for oak and alder the rotting process is quick (one year), for beech and horse chestnut slower (two years), and for leaves from evergreen plants and conifers very slow (at least three years).Young leafmould is an excellent mulch helping keep weeds at bay and to reduce the need to water thirsty plants. A layer a couple of inches deep is all that is needed to retain water and restrict weeds. It can also be dug into growing beds to improve the soil by adding organic content.
After a further year the leafmould will be very well rotted, and there will be no visible traces of leaves left in the bag(s) since the leafmould will have crumbled down to very small pieces. This can be used in all the ways described above, but can also be mixed with garden compost to make (peat free) potting compost, with garden compost and sharp sand to make seed compost. Fine leafmould can also be used as a lawn dressing during the main growing season. Simply spike the lawn all over with a garden fork, throw sieved leafmould over the lawn, and brush it in.
If you want to speed up the rotting process, either use a garden shredder to shred the leaves before bagging them. Alternatively, throw the leaves over the lawn and mow over them. The shredded leaves will then be collected in the lawn mower ready for easy bagging.
Article Published: 14:28, 4th Jun 2010
Related Articles
Building a Pond
Find out how to build a garden pond
Article Published: 09:20, 18th Jul 2008
general | grow your own
Make Newspaper Plant Pots
Find out how to make your own environmentally friendly plant pots from newspaper
Article Published: 11:39, 5th Jul 2008
grow your own | vegetables
Growing Garlic
Find out how to grow your own garlic
Article Published: 12:19, 5th Jul 2008
grow your own | vegetables
Growing Shallots
Find out how to grow your own shallots
Article Published: 07:06, 12th Jul 2008
grow your own | vegetables
Types of Soil
Learn about the different types of soil
Article Published: 12:16, 6th Apr 2006
grow your own
Self Sufficiency Courses
The self-sufficiency courses around the world
Article Published: 07:24, 22nd Feb 2008
education | general
Recommended Reading
View of list of recommended books on self sufficiency and growing
Article Published: 11:55, 9th Apr 2006
books | general
Raised Beds
Learn how to build and use raised growing beds.
Article Published: 16:13, 15th Apr 2006
grow your own
Crop Rotation
Find out more about the importance of crop rotation
Article Published: 08:08, 5th Jul 2008
grow your own | vegetables
Growing Rhubarb
Find out how to grow and care for rhubarb
Article Published: 13:59, 15th Jul 2008
grow your own | vegetables