A GARDENING expert has revealed a secret that can transform fall leaves into a something useful.
Fallen leaves can be used to make leaf mold that is healthy for plants, according to Tamsin Hope Thompson, a gardener and author.
Called leaf mold, it is a mulch that can be act as a homegrown mulch to help shrubs and trees or improve garden soil.
Sweeping up leaves is a huge benefit to any garden as it avoids risking plant mold, and extra snails and slugs, Homes & Gardens said.
It also makes a great mulch for planting in a border.
All a person needs for leaf mold is leaves that can be set aside from the typical compost so that they may decompose alone.
“There’s nothing complicated about making it, and while it takes some time for the leaves to break down the result is worth the wait,” Tamsin told the outlet.
“After one to two years, leaf mold can be used as a mulch around shrubs and trees, or dug in to improve the soil’s structure.”
The best leaves to use are those fallen from oak, beech, and hornbeam trees, for their rapid decay rate.
While leaf mold can form over 2-3 years adding grass clipping to the leaf mulch increases the nitrate, which presses the gas pedal on the decay rate, according to the outlet.
Damp leaves will also break down quite a bit faster than dry ones.
Leaf mold has a lower nutritional content for plants compared to that of classic compost.
There are six simple steps to make a great leaf mold.
First, leaves will need to be collected from the yard. Anybody who doesn’t have enough of their own can offer to do some yard work for a friend or neighbor.
Avoid collecting leaves from big streets, as they can be poisonous with pollution, Homes & Gardens said.
Shredded leaves will break down faster.
A shredder or a lawnmower can be used, as long as the leaves are made into tiny pieces.
The raked, shredded leaves will need to be stored in a leaf mold bin.
This special bin needs to be made of wire mesh in order to properly expedite the process.
If a wire mesh bin is not an option for storage, a black bin liner or used compost back can also do the trick.
After a about a year, the leaf mold should be checked on to see if it is decomposing properly.
Ideally, the mold is deep brown in color, and can easily crumble in the hand, according to Home & Gardens.
The leaves should be entirely putrefied.
Year-old leaf mold makes a great mulch for plant borders.
For plant that subsist on more acid, a leaf mold made from pine needles fits the bill.
For leaves stored in bin liners, holes should be poked into the bags after they are stuffed with leaves.
Oxygen is crucial in the decay process.
The only other thing you need is a place to keep these leaves out of the way while nature takes its course.
