Fallen leaves are a useful source of organic matter. As they decompose, they improve soil structure, water movement, and moisture retention.
Leaf mold is made mostly by fungi slowly decomposing damp leaves. It is an excellent soil conditioner, though it is not a complete fertilizer.
- Collect healthy leaves that are free of garbage and road salt.
- Shredding helps them break down faster, but whole leaves will work with more time.
- Put them in a simple wire enclosure or breathable leaf bag and dampen them. They should feel like a wrung-out sponge, not drip.
- Turn or fluff a compacted pile occasionally so air can enter.
- Wait until the material is dark and crumbly. Depending on leaf type and conditions, this can take a year or more.
The old page gave a large, fixed dose of 7-7-7 fertilizer for leaves. Do not use that recipe. Leaves already carry decomposers, and a soil test—not the volume of a leaf pile—should guide fertilizer used on plants. For faster, balanced decomposition, combine some leaves with nitrogen-rich greens in the compost.