Good news for those who hate raking leaves in autumn and
carting them to the curb for disposal. Instead of making the long haul from the
backyard, you can keep them there and make leaf mold. What is leaf mold? You
may ask this same question as I did, although I’ve apparently been making it
for years and just didn’t realize it had a name.
Leaf mold compost is a simple process that allows you to
break down your fallen leaves for future use in gardens and flower beds. Keep
reading for more info on using leaf mold for soil.
About Leaf Mold Compost
Using leaf mold as a soil amendment is a common and
productive practice. Use it as mulch or incorporate it into the soil, or both.
Spread a three-inch (7.5 cm.) layer around shrubs, trees, in flower beds and
gardens, or any spot that will benefit from a biodegradable covering or
amendment.
Leaf
mulch absorbs water, so you can use it to
assist with erosion control in some areas. It is effective as a soil
conditioner, creating an environment that attracts
earthworms and good bacteria. It does not provide nutrients, though,
so continue to fertilize as you normally would.
How to Make Leaf Mold
Learning how to make leaf mold is simple. It is a cold composting process, as opposed to a regular compost pile that breaks materials down through heat. As such, it takes longer for leaves to decompose to the appropriate point of use.
You may pile the raked leaves in a corner of your yard or
bag them tightly in large garbage bags. Poke holes in the bags to allow some
air circulation and store them out of the sun and other weather. These will
decompose in approximately a year. However, the leaves may be ready in spring if
you shred them before storage.
You can shred with the lawnmower or an outdoor shredder. The shredded leaves will compost quicker and become an earthy scented, soft and crumbly leaf mold for soil substance perfect for mixing into garden beds.
Keep the leaves moist, mix in grass clippings or green
leaves, and turn if you have the leaves in a pile. Rake them out into strips
for faster decomposition. Not all leaves decompose at the same rate. Smaller
leaves are ready more quickly than larger ones.
Now that you’ve learned the benefits of using leaf mold in
your outdoor beds, stop throwing them away. Begin cold composting and use them
in your gardens while saving yourself a few trips to the curb.
Good news for those who hate raking leaves in autumn and
carting them to the curb for disposal. Instead of making the long haul from the
backyard, you can keep them there and make leaf mold. What is leaf mold? You
may ask this same question as I did, although I’ve apparently been making it
for years and just didn’t realize it had a name.
Leaf mold compost is a simple process that allows you to
break down your fallen leaves for future use in gardens and flower beds. Keep
reading for more info on using leaf mold for soil.
About Leaf Mold Compost
Using leaf mold as a soil amendment is a common and
productive practice. Use it as mulch or incorporate it into the soil, or both.
Spread a three-inch (7.5 cm.) layer around shrubs, trees, in flower beds and
gardens, or any spot that will benefit from a biodegradable covering or
amendment.
Leaf
mulch absorbs water, so you can use it to
assist with erosion control in some areas. It is effective as a soil
conditioner, creating an environment that attracts
earthworms and good bacteria. It does not provide nutrients, though,
so continue to fertilize as you normally would.
How to Make Leaf Mold
Learning how to make leaf mold is simple. It is a cold composting process, as opposed to a regular compost pile that breaks materials down through heat. As such, it takes longer for leaves to decompose to the appropriate point of use.
You may pile the raked leaves in a corner of your yard or
bag them tightly in large garbage bags. Poke holes in the bags to allow some
air circulation and store them out of the sun and other weather. These will
decompose in approximately a year. However, the leaves may be ready in spring if
you shred them before storage.
You can shred with the lawnmower or an outdoor shredder. The shredded leaves will compost quicker and become an earthy scented, soft and crumbly leaf mold for soil substance perfect for mixing into garden beds.
Keep the leaves moist, mix in grass clippings or green
leaves, and turn if you have the leaves in a pile. Rake them out into strips
for faster decomposition. Not all leaves decompose at the same rate. Smaller
leaves are ready more quickly than larger ones.
Now that you’ve learned the benefits of using leaf mold in
your outdoor beds, stop throwing them away. Begin cold composting and use them
in your gardens while saving yourself a few trips to the curb.