Making Leaf Mould

Leaf mould (or leaf mold, depending on what country you’re in) is nothing more than decomposed leaves. A beneficial resource for the garden as it works as a soil conditioner, helping to improve the structure of the soil. Leaf litter in my yard is something I have an abundance of due to the many large trees growing on the property. Where the leaves fall in the garden areas I leave them to naturally break down where they are but the constant leaf litter that accumulates in the gravelled areas I regularly rake up and pile them into a leaf tower. I made a very simple and primitive looking leaf tower by sticking four posts in the ground and wrapping chicken wire around it, positioned in a shady spot in the backyard. 5 years on and it’s still going strong and has provided loads of beautiful crumbly leaf litter. Generally leaves will take at least 1 to 2 years to naturally break down to become fine crumbly leaf mould. Regular watering of the pile will help speed up the process but I prefer not to water mine and wait that little bit longer. 

This is a handful of leaf mould after about 12 months of decomposing. It’s perfect to use as mulch or dig directly into the garden. And the other perfect thing about it is the cost. It’s free!