Autumn is the perfect time of year to collect leaves in a bin liner to make leaf mould.
Where I live all the streets are already a complete leaf carpet of canary yellows, firebrand oranges and terracotta reds.
Why make leaf mould?
Leaf mould doesn’t provide as many plant nutrients as garden compost but it is very good for improving the structure of your soil, making it nice and crumbly which plants prefer.
It can also be used as mulch, soil improver, as an autumn top-dressing for lawns and a top layer for bare soil during winter.
Leave your leaf mould two years to become well-rotted and it can also be used as seed-sowing compost.
How to make leaf mould?
Leaf collecting is best done around midday when the early morning dew has evaporated leaving the leaves fairly dry.
Collect leaves into bin bags. Avoid thick and waxy leaves (like holly).
Tie the bag and make a few holes in it and put it somewhere out of the way; in a corner, under the hedge, in the shed…
Now just forget all about it.
Leaves take about 12 months to break down into leaf mould.
Aurora Gardening 