At the top the plot I’ve got some raised beds where I plan to grow some gooseberry plants and I thought I’d go over how I have recently prepared the raised beds.

At the top the plot I’ve got some raised beds where I plan to grow some gooseberry plants and I thought I’d go over how I have recently prepared the raised beds.
At this time of year you can really make use of the debris left as a result of the changing seasons and the drop in temperatures. Â Leafmould is compost made out of decaying leaves and is a great soil conditioner.
Leafmould is easy to produce – all you have to do is collect the leaves up and store in a plastic bag, wire cage or something that’s going to keep in the moisture.
Once stored – leave it… No pun intended. Â It takes around one and a half to two years to break down, decompose and eventually be subject to “humification”. Â Humification is the fancy word given to the process in which green and brown matter is turned into compost.
Well-rotted leafmould, which has been left for more than two years can be used as seed-sowing compost. You can also mix it equally with sharp sand, garden compost and a good quality top soil to use as potting compost.
Leftover, composted material that has not quite rotted down fully, or is less than two years old can be used as a mulch or a soil conditioner in the autumn.
In the winter, it can be used to cover bare soil and or used in the winter to cover bare soil and keep weed growth to a minimum.
If you plan on making your own multi-purpose, keep you leaves away from the main compost bin.