<h4>You're browser does not support iFrames - here is an exerpt of the content</h4> <a href="http://lochnessgarden.blogspot.com/2011/11/making-leaf-mould-recipe-for-potting.html">Click here to read the article in full</a> Leaf mould is a lovely old fashionedterm, and brings to mind old Estate gardens and poorly paid, overworked gardenboys.? It often appeared as a magicingredient alongside weathered soot and wood ash and ground up toe nails!<br /><img border="0" height="213" src="http://gardenersvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/making-leaf-mould-a-recipe-for-potting-compost.jpg" width="320" />But for us it is a natural plentifulresource and a vital ingredient in our potting composts. Over the years we havesteadily reduced the amount of peat in our mixes and leaf mould is reallyuseful.<img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--JSYPYxn0eA/TrDmVnqtKGI/AAAAAAAAAu8/acxzBcRf8nw/s320/autumn+leaf+1.jpg" width="320" />The native trees that shed their leavesfor us are Hazel, Birch and Oak, and of course we are a garden and we also havelots of Maples, Cercidiphyllum , Chestnut and Larch.<img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XwdDvzxqMkQ/TrDnk_LoW8I/AAAAAAAAAvM/yjVxgVj-NJs/s320/autumn+leaf+3.jpg" width="213" /><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-afEuhLcKE_k/TrDnqSgTcPI/AAAAAAAAAvU/1h4Qabr3B7o/s320/autumn+leaf+5.jpg" width="320" /><br /><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5r0ib7cdQEc/TrDnvMdvsnI/AAAAAAAAAvc/PCM71vKPuHs/s320/autumn+leaf+6.jpg" width="320" /><br />The leaves fall onto beds and along thepaths.<br />This make for easy pickings and any dryday from late October onwards there is often someone out there, with a bucket, a rake and a collection oldcompost bags.<br /><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T6bxib6g4zE/TrDoDZ_DboI/AAAAAAAAAv0/BHfITVNHFWM/s320/leaf+collecting+1.jpg" width="320" />The leaves are poured out into compostbins constructed from wooden pallets and when we have a bumper year, we make wire netting cages to take themall. ?<br /><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sDvF8ezCG2g/TrDopJh0pDI/AAAAAAAAAwU/XGu6AEZmUzU/s320/leaf+multch+3.jpg" width="320" />There they sit for 2 years, slowlymouldering. <br />Each leaf has its own characteristics.<br />Oak is tough and takes 2 years to rotdown.<br />Hazel is much softer and takes a yearto 18 months.<br /><br />Inevitably there is the odd holly leafin the mould. They are a pain, literally.?They are always a surprise, and take forever to rot so they retain allof their prickles. Again natures wee joke.<br /><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o8mqJmP59k8/TrDoyeTOEgI/AAAAAAAAAwc/zLYN3M--wrg/s320/leaf+multch+1.jpg" width="320" />Leaf mould is also a great mulch, in factit is nature’s mulch in our woodlands<br />We like to return some to the bedsevery year. <br /><br />Here’s our recipe for general purposepotting compost<strong>Sieved Leaf Mould</strong> 1/3<sup>rd</sup><br /><strong>John Innes No3</strong> 1/3<sup>rd</sup> <br /><strong>Grit/Gravel</strong> 1/6<sup>th</sup> dependingon the plants to use it<br /><strong>Fibrous Compost</strong> 1/6<sup>th</sup> to 1/3<sup>rd</sup> (You could use peat, but there are now many more sustainable?alternatives available)<sup></sup><br /><br /><sup>Happy gathering,? M</sup><br /><br /><sup>For more advice about the benefits of leaves read Donald's Autumn Blog from 2009 </sup><sup>Love Your Leaves</sup><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6502898979441936964-9038355099852204848?l=lochnessgarden.blogspot.com' alt='' />
