At this time of year, leaves can be found practically anywhere in the garden, from the lawn to the flower beds to the corners. Don’t throw them away; rather, gather them all into a large pile, and you’ll have a rich source of organic matter for your garden.
Making leaf mold couldn’t be easier. To make a leaf mold cage, secure chicken wire or mesh to four corner posts dug firmly into the earth. The mesh can be secured in place with U-shaped nails or fence staples.
Place all of the leaves you’ve gathered in the cage. Because of the mesh, the leaves won’t be able to escape, but they’ll still get enough of ventilation. In a normal situation, it takes around two years for leaves to decompose into leaf mold.
Even easier, you may simply use durable plastic bags to store the leaves. Stuff the leaves all the way down into the bag and secure the top. Create holes in the bag by periodically poking it with a garden fork. Put the bags in a dark, secure place where they won’t be messed with for at least two years.
