Bags of leaf mould now ready from BCCS.
Leaf mould makes a fantastic winter mulch for your soil – protects it, nutures it, and encourages the fungi that benefits the “soil web” and life in the soil. Garden Organic explain the science of leaf mould – summary quoted from them as follows -for more see https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/leafmould
“Autumn leaves are rotted down mainly by the slow, cool action of fungi – rather than the quicker acting bacteria that work in a compost heap. This is why autumn leaves in quantity are best recycled separately in a leafmould heap. Leaves contain up to 80% of the nutrients picked up by a tree. However, as they die, most of these nutrients are reabsorbed by the tree. What remains in the leaf is an important substance called lignin. It acts as a buffer for extremes of mineral flows within the soil, and can hold the soil nutrients in reserve. Lignin is also the fibre in the leaf’s cell structure, and is slow to break down. This means some leaves – which are higher in lignin – are slower to rot than others.Leaves which are higher in lignin and lower in nitrogen and calcium: beech, birch, hornbeam, oak, sweet chestnut and magnolia. Leaves which are lower in lignin and higher in calcium and nitrogen: ash, cherry, elm, linden, maple, poplar and willow”.
Leaf mould is great for the soil as it helps with both the absorption of rainwater during wet periods, preventing the rain from spoiling the structure of the soil, and retaining water during periods of heat, making it available for plant roots. Worms love it too and will look to pull it into the soil, which in turn creates channels for air, nutrients and water to run. Put a thinnish layer of leafmould over your soil at this time of year and see how it will have disappeared by the spring. All the better if you add a layer of community compost for extra protection for the soil beneath.