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Raking leaves

lydiaannlydiaann Posts: 300
in Talkback

Is there anything more satisfying than raking leaves from lawns and paths? - and such good exercise!  I am currently feeling quite self-satisfied having spent almost an hour in such activity - although it's quite windy so the self-same exercise will have to take place again in the next day or two.  I notice that last year's leaf mould has broken down beautifully so I've moved it all over to one-third of the 'cage' that Himself made for me last year and will spread it as a mulch over one of my bigger borders.  Now I know how much it breaks down, I shall ensure I gather every leaf that falls this year and leave it to perform its magic for next winterimage. 

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Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    Now I feel guilty for sucking them up with a ride on mowerimage

    But it does break them down a bit to start the composting process



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • LesleyKLesleyK Posts: 4,029

    Glad you've had a nice timeimage  I pray for dry leaves and a good wind to pile the leaves up in the cornerimageimage

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,140

    But don't make it too tidy - the hedgehogs need leaf piles to hibernate in!

    http://www.hedgehogstreet.org/pages/seasonal-tips.html

    image

     


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    I've got the piles of leaves but no hedgehogs to hibernate in them Doveimage

     



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,140

    It's a bit of a chicken and egg situation Nut -  maybe one day a wandering Hefty will come across your leaf piles and make himself at home image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    I hope so Dove, they were never plentiful here, not like in my previous garden, but I haven't seen any evidence for years now.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Snow MaidenSnow Maiden Posts: 862

    One of my fave autumninal (not sure if thats a real word or if its spelt right if it is!) jobs, love doing it and I agree Dove, I always leave a fair share to any wildlife friends to use as they wish. Last year I gathered loads up and it rotted down beautifully, most has already been used.

  • lydiaannlydiaann Posts: 300

    We have a 'heritage hedge', from whence cometh all those leaves I so love to rake, so behind our fence is a wonderful cornucopia of nesting hidey-holes for our tiggywinkles.  We have a 'hedgehog path' coming under the front fence, across the lawns and under that back fence - we usually find their 'landmines' image daily somewhere along the route so have learned to tread carefully there!

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    I am so envious lydiaann



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    I miss the two big trees I had in the garden round the corner from here. I loved gathering the maple leaves in particular - they were beautiful.

    I'd love a garden with a woodland like yours nut. Maybe when I'm old and grey - or older and greyer  image - I'll move to a little place in the middle of nowhere and have my woodland and hedgehogs and birds. image

    And some hills of course image

    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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