If you want to … By well-composted, I mean leaves that have been cold composting for better than a year. Tree leaves have high carbon, low nitrogen ratio (60:1), depending on leaf species, compared to an ideal organic material (24:1). Leaf mold brings many benefits to your garden soil, such as: Do you want to get started making leaf mold? Leaf mold is used as a soil amendment because it provides nutrients and a moist growing medium for plants. This post may contain affiliate links. Leaf mold is a soil amendment. Since the leaf mold is a cold process, it won’t kill the fungal spores, and it can re-infect your trees. It utilizes a cool-generated process using fungus to breakdown the leaves. Organic matter also provides the perfect habitat for beneficial bacteria and earthworms in your garden. Leaf mold provides a number of fantastic benefits for your garden: Increases the water holding capacity of the soil. Now, who wouldn’t want that? You can apply a layer of shredded leaves (3-6 inches) around the base of trees, shrubs, and flower beds. By definition leaf mold if simply decomposed leaves, with it being a natural substance beneath deciduous trees. Mix it into the top layer or use 3-4 inches as a mulch. Gardening is one of the most popular hobbies around the world and studies have shown this past time may improve mental and physical health. Whether or not you possess gardening personality traits, we want to coach you so you too, can reap this hobbies benefits. Use a shovel or garden fork to turn your leaf pile every few weeks. 1. Luckily, I get out of constant raking during the fall months since my husband owns a mulcher mower. Use it as mulch or incorporate it into the soil, or both. She holds an Associate’s in Horticulture, a Bachelor’s in Business, and currently earning a Master’s in Business Administration. It will attract a wide range of beneficial microorganisms and insects. However, you decide to use your leaves, your garden, and the environment will reap the benefits. Leaf mold really is natures compost, it needs no special treatment, makes a great natural mulch, it does not have much in the way of nutrients, however it does have a few hidden benefits. Leaf mold is a soil amendment that can be used in containers, potting soil mixes, seed starting, raised beds and in ground gardens. It will improve water retention, soil structure and drainage as well as improve the habitat for valuable organisms in the garden like earth worms and beneficial bacteria. In addition to mowing over the leaves to speed up the process, you can turn the pile or give the plastic bag a firm shake. Leaf mold is nothing more than well-composted tree leaves and it’s miraculous for building soil. Leaf mold adds organic matter and other nutrients when you add it to your garden. Using leaf mold as a soil amendment is a common and productive practice. Leaf mold is essentially a soil conditioner. The benefits of leaf mould cannot be overstated. Also, stay away from using walnut leaves if you plan to use the leaf mold in your garden. Leaf Mold is the result of leaves that have fully decomposed and now have a crumbly texture. Your email address will not be published. Despite its ugly appearance and potentially hazardous effects, mold can offer some great benefits. Remove them from patios, decks and paths to stop them becoming slippery as well as reap the benefits of making your own soil improver. If leaves are placed in a pile uncut, it can take up to two years to turn into leaf mold. Evergreens such as holly, Aucuba and cherry laurel, are better shredded and added to the compost heap, where they will break down faster than if added to the leafmould pile. Leaf mold is a form of compost, which gradually changes into the humus before it breakdown due to slow fungus. Leaf Mold – Natures Soil Conditioner. 3) The layer of leaves protect and feed organisms including earthworms. Leaf mold is considered to be a soil conditioner. Small thin leaves such as birch break down fairly quickly, while large leathery ones such as chestnut benefit from being shredded first. 1 In this #shorts video, I take you through some of the benefits of using leaf mold in the garden. The leaves offer a significant amount of nutrients for the soil, but not all are immediately available after application. Some studies have shown soils have retained 50% more water after the addition of leaf mold. How to use autumn leaves to improve garden soil: Alan Titchmarsh’s top tips. This natural soil conditioner improves water-holding capacity, enhances soil structure (and therefore water and air movement within the soil), and provide habitat for the soil’s micro–and macro– Uses. especially fruit (Gooseberries, Red Currants...) … The table below shows the nutrient concentration extracted from the leaves. It helps to loosen heavy soil, hold the soil moisture, confirm proper aeration and drainage system. Most leaves are slightly acidic when they fall, with a pH below 6. In a nutshell, carbon is the highest concentration element. Leaf mold has a number of great benefits but first let’s mention what it’s not. Depending on how you prepared the leaves, decomposition can take up to two years. Is Your Seed Alive? Leaf mould improves soil drainage and aeration and reduces soil compaction. It helps to develop clay soil, sandy soil or rocky soil to turn into good quality soil. Smaller pieces will decompose more quickly. The Hearty Garden. All Rights Reserved. It helps speed up the leaf mold process to be ready in about a year. Conifer needles will eventually break down, but may take two to three years to decay. Secondly, the added mixture will improved soil so that it is well-draining. And when used as a soil amendment, it can increase water retention in the soil by 50% or more. Leaves can be stored in a circular wire (such as chicken wire) bin or piled in an inconspicuous area in your yard. How to Test for Seed Viability, Grow Herbs and Flowers Together In Your Landscape, Adding organic matter to the soil which increases, Feeding the soil food web by increasing biological and worm activity, Keeping your plant’s roots cool by regulating soil temperature moisture and retention, Slowly releasing nutrients and fertilizing your plants and increase yield, Building healthier plants to boost disease resistance, Improves soil structure that helps with drainage issues. Once they help rake the leaves into a pile, they can jump and play in the leaves before placing them in their storage bins. The research was to see if the leaves are a beneficial resource for agricultural soil and crops. If you are using the plastic bag method, just turn it over or give it a firm shake. It’s best to shred them using your mower so they’ll break down faster. 4) By using leaves as a mulch, you are helping the environment. Leaf mold is said to have very good water retaining capacities and can be used for potting mixes, or used for enriching soil. In fact, leaf mold doesn't really offer very many nutrients but conditions the soil. Over time, annual applications of leaf mold mulch can significantly improve the quality of your soil and increase in beneficial soil life. It contains a natural herbicide called juglones and can harm your plants. It’s not just the lawn that should be cleared of leaves, either. Alternatively you can just pile up your leaves and use them later when brown materials are scarce. The majority of the nutrients listed above need a little help. Read our privacy policy. However, as they breakdown, they will eventually release their nutrients, and its best to think of using leaves as a long-term fertility solution. Leaf mold also improves soil structure and provides a fantastic habitat for soil life, including earthworms and beneficial bacteria. Leaf mold is excellent at retaining moisture in the soil. Leaf mold from deciduous trees will be richer in potassium and phosphorous than nitrogen. Rake your leaves or collect leaves from a neighbor into a pile. Check out our homemade potting soil mix and substitute leaf mold for compost. Your email address will not be published. Leaf mold is great for retaining moisture in your soil as it holds 500 percent of its own weight in water. It is gradually disintegrated. One of the great benefits from using leaf mold compost is that it will hold 500% more of its own weight in water. Hugelkultur: Permaculture’s Ultimate Raised Bed, 3 Ways to Make Your Own Seed Starting Pots. Along with giving nutrients gradually to plants, it … Not only is it less labor-intensive than a traditional compost pile, it only calls for one ingredient â fallen leaves. When applied to your garden and decompose, they increase the soil’s organic matter and it’s capacity to hold water and improve soil tilth. Making leaf mold is less work and more straightforward to manage than composting. Kimberly has over 25 years in traditional and digital marketing experience with eight years in higher education. Leaf mold is a a form of compost produced by the slow fungal breakdown of leaves before it finally turns into humus. However, I take the time to rake enough leaves to place into a pile to create nutrient-rich leaf mold for my containers and garden beds. This will keep the leaves more consistently moist and warm. At once it makes the soil spongier and helps it retain moisture and air, which benefits plant roots. By improving soil structure, it also encourages beneficial bacteria and home to earthworms. Sep 21, 2020 | Building Healthy Soil, Gardening, How-To and Tips | 0 comments. So, what does this mean? Leaf mold is an organic matter and a soil amendment that is simply a result of composted tree leaves. A soil pH test may … 2) Leaf Mold improves soil fertility which means it provides nutrients to the soil and improves soil structure so it will become nice and loose over time. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Leaf mold is very versatile and can be used all throughout the garden. With expertise in horticulture, garden design, and maintenance, she has her sights on coaching others so they too can begin their gardening journey. But you can add nutrient rich comfrey leaves to the material when preparing a mix for potting on or plant containers. Kimberly is passionate about all things sustainable gardening and reaping its physical and mental benefits. If you decide to use trash bags, wet down the leaves and poke holes in the bag to allow air circulation. Leaf mold brings many benefits to your garden soil, such as: Adding organic matter to the soil which increases water-holding capacity Feeding the soil food web by increasing biological and worm activity Keeping your plant’s roots cool by regulating soil temperature moisture and retention Evergreen leaves and conifer needles take far longer to rot and should not be included in great quantities, and then only when chopped. You can use leaves from all sorts of deciduous trees to make leaf mould, but those that are thick – for example, horse chestnut, sweet chestnut and sycamore – are best shredded first. Leaf mold is like a soft pillow, which is naturally found in the forest just above the soil. When the leaves decompose, the carbon is released and helps the soil retain water, structure, and fertility. Leaf mold also has high … What this means is that applying leaf mold to your garden will boost soil life, will provide minerals for your plants, and will improve the structure of your garden’s soil. © 2020. Leaf mold is a powerful soil conditioner. Benefits of Leaf Mold. Leaf mold has several great attributes. There are two main factors need for making a leaf mold: – The presence of adequate moisture and oxygen in the air. Though leaves are not high in nitrogen, phosphorus … Planting beds conditioned with leaf mold may become slightly acid. Learn how to compost leaves quickly to make a nutrient-rich leaf compost that will benefit your garden. Plus leaves contain twice the mineral content of manure. It increases the water retention of soils. Log in, The Best Way to Get Rid of Pill Bugs in the Garden. Leaf mold can hold up to 500 times its own weight in water” … If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. When you directly apply leaves into or on top of your garden soil, the microorganisms will utilize the soil’s nitrogen to break down the leaves. As the leaves continue to decay, carbon levels decrease, and nitrogen levels increase, it eventually brings more nitrogen availability to the plants. Leaf mold is a great soil conditioner. Besides helping retain moisture in the soil by reducing evaporation, leaf mold also absorbs rainwater to reduce runoff, and in hot weather, it helps cool roots and foliage. The best leaves for leaf mould Making a leaf mould bin Affiliate Disclosure - Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy, Anti-inflammatory Foods You Can Grow In Your Garden. Two main factors necessary to create leaf mold are sufficient moisture and the presence of oxygen from the air. Benefits of Leaf Mold. If that wasn’t enough, leaf mold also feeds earthworms and the beneficial … The first is that it can hold up to 500 percent of its own weight in water. On the other hand, traditional compost utilizes a heat-generated process using bacteria to breakdown the organic matter. Don’t include leaves that show any fungal disease issues. Below is a step by step guide to get started. When decomposed, leaves provide the perfect habitat and food source for your soil’s microbes and earthworms. Making leaf mold is an easy way to get your children involved in learning how to reduce, reuse, and recycle. It holds more water by weight than peat moss. It’s good stuff! Given the copious amounts of dry leaves available in the fall you may want to consider making leaf mold. To enjoy year after year, use multiple bins, piles, and bags for a fresh continuous yearly batch. “It also creates the perfect conditions for the community of beneficial organisms that dwell in your soil” (Galloway, par.1). Or chop them up for quicker decomposition by mowing over the pile. Leaf mould creators, listen up! Nonetheless, please don’t throw them out to the curbside and fill valuable landfill space. In addition to use for seedlings, potting on and plant containers, leaf mold is ideal for mulching around shallow rooted moisture loving plants: e.g. Before adding leaves to your pile or bag, run over them a couple of times with your lawn mower. Leaf mold will slow soil moisture evaporation during hot summers and will slow soil cooling in autumn. But you can apply a layer of leaves, your garden away from using walnut leaves you! Added aeration and drainage system conditioned with leaf mold is a a form of compost by! 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