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What can go into Leafmould?

Ferdinand2000Ferdinand2000 Posts: 537
in Fruit & veg
A quick question (I hope).

If I want to make leafmould, is it just fallen leaves?

I have various things coming soon in addition to leaves from next door's trees - from green trimmings from climbers being downsized, and bits of my blackberry going the wrong way to prunings from my Bhuddlea in Feb/Mar.

I can shred anything that needs shredding.

But is that all compost-fodder, or can some of it go in with the leaves?

Thanks

Ferdinand  
“Rivers know this ... we will get there in the end.”
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Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    As you say, that’s all compost fodder,  leaf mould is just that so if you have tons of leaves just use those on their own, they need to be left open so it rains on them, best in a cage made of chicken wire,  compost need to be covered so the heat stays in.
    leaves take longer to rot down but well worth it in the long run. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Ferdinand2000Ferdinand2000 Posts: 537
    edited September 2020
    Thank-you. So most should be compost, then.

    I might experiment with one of these, since I have at least one spare wheelie bin.
    https://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-Compost-Bin-From-a-Wheelie-Bin/

    Ferdinand


    “Rivers know this ... we will get there in the end.”
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    edited September 2020
    That’s ok but it does need forking over regularly to get it working quicker,  Wheely bins are not the easiest. 
    You will need to take the lid off so it can get watered when it rains. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    I try to rake leaves onto the lawn and then mow them up. They rot down faster if they're chopped and some grass cuttings mixed in also seems to speed the process. I store mine in builders' 1 tonne dumpy sacks.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • Ferdinand2000Ferdinand2000 Posts: 537
    Topbird said:
    I try to rake leaves onto the lawn and then mow them up. They rot down faster if they're chopped and some grass cuttings mixed in also seems to speed the process. I store mine in builders' 1 tonne dumpy sacks.

    The lawn was abolished by Executive Decision a few years ago :-) .

    The conversation from mum to me went: "So, are you going to mow it every week?"

    It will be the yardbrush and the drive, which is fortunately where the leaves will be.
    “Rivers know this ... we will get there in the end.”
  • Ferdinand2000Ferdinand2000 Posts: 537
    Can I ask a supplementary?

    Does a leafmould making enclosure need to be exposed to the soil below?

    Cheers

    “Rivers know this ... we will get there in the end.”
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    In a word, no.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I use builders bags for oak leaves. It takes about three years, but yields a beautiful peat like substance at the end. The only problem is the space it takes up. They go down by about half the first year, and then I turn two bags into one, and leave for another year.  They are on concrete base, no worms needed, but they do need to be open to rain otherwise they get too dry.
  • Ferdinand2000Ferdinand2000 Posts: 537
    Alles klar.
    “Rivers know this ... we will get there in the end.”
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You can also do them in black bin bags with some holes in them for drainage. I've done that when I've run out of room in the proper enclosure I had.
    I've also done them in builders' bags, as @fidgetbones says. Got some just now.
    They do need enough moisture, however you do it though, so the plastic bin will be less successful unless you can open it up and turn it regularly.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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