Autumn leaves provide a free and easy way to make leaf mould, a useful growing medium and soil improver, says Clare Wilson
Deborah Vernon/Alamy
WITH the dry summer the UK has had, some trees are already shedding their leaves. To me, that means one thing: leaf mould. This unappealingly named substance, made by collecting autumn leaves and letting them rot for a year or two, can be used as a growing medium and soil improver and is easier to make than garden compost.
Compost heaps are a great way to get rid of garden and kitchen waste, but they take work to build up and feed with the right mix of materials, and turning them over can be heavy going. Dry autumn leaves, …