Why Smart Gardeners Never Rake Leaves to the Curb, by Global Gardening on YouTube. 16 min 23 s.
- Video length
- 16 min 23 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour plus 6 to 12 months wai
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 6
What you need
Steps
Rake up fallen leaves from your lawn and beds. Skip walnut, eucalyptus and oily or diseased leaves, and keep out twigs, rubbish and stones.
Shred the leaves by running a lawn mower over them on the lawn, or tipping them into a leaf shredder. Smaller pieces break down much faster.
Pick a setup for your space: a wire or wooden bin, a large bag with air holes, or a simple pile in a corner. Fill it with the shredded leaves.
Water the leaves until they are damp like a wrung-out sponge. Turn or shake the pile every few weeks so air reaches the fungi.
Wait and check. Shredded leaves take about 6 to 12 months, whole leaves up to 2 or 3 years. Leaf mold is ready when it is dark, crumbly and smells earthy.
Use the finished leaf mold as a mulch on beds, dig it into soil, or mix it into potting compost. A 2 to 3 inch layer works well.
Tips and common mistakes
Shredding is the single biggest time saver, so do not skip it if you want leaf mold within a year.
Keep the pile damp but not soggy; dry leaves stall and wet leaves rot and smell.
Do not add thick layers of whole oak or beech leaves to beds directly, as they break down slowly and can lock up nitrogen.
Leaf mold is a soil conditioner, not a fertiliser, so use it to improve texture and water holding rather than feeding plants.
Questions
Can I compost leaves instead of making leaf mold?
Yes. Leaves can go in a normal compost heap, but they break down slowly and need plenty of greens mixed in. Leaf mold is a separate, slower fungal process that gives a finer soil conditioner.
Do I need a bin, or can I just use bags?
Bags work well in small gardens. Fill large bags, punch a few air holes, dampen the leaves and tie them loosely. Store them out of the way and check them every couple of months.
How do I know when leaf mold is finished?
It should be dark brown to black, crumbly and soft, with no recognisable leaf shapes. If you can still see whole leaves, leave it longer and keep it damp.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
