Never Throw Away Fall Leaves Again. Old Farmer Trick Turns Them Into Black Gold, by Grandpa Earl's Garden on YouTube. 17 min 50 s.
- Video length
- 17 min 50 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour plus 6 to 12 months to
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Rake the leaves into a loose pile on the lawn. Keep them dry if you can, and skip any leaves that are soaked or mixed with dog waste.
Run the mower over the pile with the bag attached, or use a mulching blade. Shredded leaves break down several times faster than whole ones.
Spread a thin layer of shredded leaves over your beds as winter mulch. Keep it a couple of inches back from stems and trunks so they do not rot.
Build a leaf mould bin from chicken wire and stakes, about 3 feet square. Fill it with shredded leaves and water each layer until damp like a wrung-out sponge.
Or stuff damp shredded leaves into black trash bags, tie them loosely and poke a few holes for air. Store the bags out of the sun and check them every few months.
Layer leaves in the compost bin as browns, alternating with greens such as grass clippings and kitchen scraps. Aim for roughly two or three parts leaves to one part greens.
Dig leaf trenches in a spare bed and bury shredded leaves about a foot deep. They rot in place and feed the soil for next season's crops.
Leave the bins and bags to sit through winter and spring. Turn the wire bin once or twice and water it if it dries out.
Check the leaf mould after about a year. It is ready when it is dark, crumbly and smells like forest soil, then dig it into beds or use it as seed compost.
Tips and common mistakes
Do not add black walnut leaves to beds or compost if you plan to grow tomatoes or other sensitive plants, as they can slow growth.
Keep the pile damp but not soggy, since dry leaves stall and wet leaves turn slimy.
Shredding is the single biggest speed-up, so run the mower over leaves even if you skip the bin.
Do not bury whole leaves in trenches, as they mat down and take years to break up.
Questions
How long does leaf mould take to make?
Shredded leaves in a wire bin usually break down in about 12 months. Whole leaves in bags can take up to two years.
Can I put leaves straight on my garden beds?
Yes, a thin layer of shredded leaves works as winter mulch. Keep it a few inches from stems and trunks to avoid rot.
Do all leaves work for leaf mould?
Most do, but oak and beech are slow and best shredded. Avoid black walnut leaves near sensitive plants.
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.
