Leaves, leaves and more leaves

Let me start by saying I can't believe I didn't think of using leaves to mulch the garden last year. This year? Different story.

I'm pretty sure I have collected and dumped at least 15 bags of leaves onto the garden already. Mum raked three more bags for me to take to the garden this weekend. If it doesn't rain on the weekend I will probably collect another six, and let's be honest as many bags of leaves as I can be bothered in the next couple of months. There are three different places where  I collect leaves. I want to have different size leaves and if I can save them going into storm drains all the better.

Last summer was unusually hot, specifically the number of 40 degree days we had. I mulched the garden but I had to buy a lot of bales of sugar cane mulch over the summer. It decomposed faster than I expected (thanks worms) so I had to top up the mulch twice. I would prefer not spending so much on mulch this summer.

Leaves are free. The plan is to mulch with leaves now, make some leaf compost and save some bags to mulch in summer. The best part about the community garden where I have plots (or allotments) is the equestrian park next to it. The regular equestrian events means free horse manure. It doesn't take long to fill a wheelbarrow with huge horse turds. I'm using horse manure to compost a pile of leaves on one plot. Hopefully the horse manure will help accelerate the decomposition of leaves. If I can get some fresh pure chicken poo I'll chuck that on too.


I've mulched the globe artichokes to give them some protection for winter. I will probably put another layer of leaves in a couple of weeks before the heavy frosts start.