Leaf Mould
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A golden carpet of leaves on the lawn can look quite a picture, but left hugging the lawn for any length of time and they could spell trouble.
Leaves are not particularly fussy where they fall, and end up clinging to the lawn, beds, borders, paths and even around the pond. Starved of light and air all these areas become susceptible to a variety of potential pests and disease problems.
But it isn't all doom and gloom, you can easily transform a pile of autumn leaves into a rich and useful soil conditioner, the sort of thing you might normally actually exchange your hard earned cash for at the garden centre.
Leaf Mould
It doesn't sound particularly attractive, but leaf mould is actually the name given to composted leaves. It is actually a lovely, dark brown, crumbly material that should smell sweet and earthy. You don't need any special equipment to make leaf mould, though if you have masses of leaves it might be a good idea to make a leaf bin where they can rot down together.
Composting
Small amounts of autumn leaves can be added to your compost bin. Simply mix them in with your normal compost waste. Larger amounts can be gathered together and swept into large black bin bags. It's essential to provide drainage holes to allow excess water to escape and also some air to circulate. Fill a perforated bin bag completely with leaves and tie at the top. Place this bag and any others in a shady spot out of the way. Behind the shed is ideal. Some leaves break down sooner than others, but after about 12months you should have a material that can be used as a surface mulch around the garden. If you want to use the material to improve the garden soil, it's a good idea to leave it for a total of 24 months so that it is fully composted and will condition the soil.
Collection
With a little regular attention and the right tool for the job you can quickly clear fallen leaves and use them to make valuable leaf mould or soil conditioner for the garden. The tool you choose depends on your budget and the size of your garden. Many gardeners make do with a rake but don't use a soil rake or a scarifying rake, it will make the job much harder, instead opt for a real leaf rake that is designed to move leaves quickly. Leaf rakes should have tines that are like flat ribbons and that do not spear the leaves.
If you've got a bigger budget then choose a powered leaf vac, there are many to choose from. Bear in mind that the electric models need a local power supply, but petrol machines can also be very heavy with prolonged use. Most will blow leaves into a pile to be collected later and can be vacuumed up by the same machine with a collection sack attached. Some blower vacs can swap over from blow to vac at the flip of a switch.
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Article from articlesbase.com
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