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Making Leaf Mold: The Secret Ingredient to a Thriving Garden

By stacy ling

Gardening Tips & Tricks

While fall clean-up can be a chore, it’s a great benefit to collect fallen leaves, make leaf mold compost, and add it to the gardens. Learn how to make it with these simple tips.

Gather Leaves Collect fallen leaves in the fall when they are abundant. You can use a rake or a leaf blower to speed up the process.

Create a Leaf Pile  Pile the leaves in a corner of your  garden or in a designated compost bin. If you’re using a bin, it’s a  good idea to drill holes in it for aeration.

Let Nature Work Unlike regular compost, leaf mold  composting doesn’t require turning or adding other materials. Simply let  the leaves sit and decompose naturally.

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Patience is Key Leaf mold takes time to fully mature,  typically between six months to two years. During this period, the  leaves will break down and turn into a crumbly, dark substance.

Use It in Your Garden Once your leaf mold is ready, spread it over your garden beds as a leaf litter mulch, or mix it into your soil.

The Plastic Garbage Bag Method If you lack garden space, collect leaves in a plastic garbage bag. Moisten the leaves in the bag, seal them, and cut a few holes to create airflow. Then let it sit, but check it periodically to ensure it stays moist. If the leaves are dry, add more water.

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Follow along to learn more about making leaf mold for your garden.

Gardening Tips & Tricks

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