Don’t waste fallen leaves, except those perilous rose leaves and evergreens, which take too long to rot down. Given time they decompose into fabulously rich leaf mould, an excellent soil conditioner.  Some may even say, nature’s soil conditioner of choice! Rake up fallen leaves and chuck them into a simple frame to make leaf mould, black bin liners spiked with air holes will also do if you can bear the visual offense. Remember to dampen the leaves first! To speed up the decomposition process, fallen leaves can be shredded for instance by using a rotary lawn mower. Adding fresh grass clippings will also speed up the process. For best results watch the pile to keep moisture content high enough, observe temperatures and turn the pile occasionally to improve the cycle.

If left to linger on the lawn for long, the grass will turn yellow. Leaf mould takes one to two years t mature. It makes a great top dressing for woodland plants such as rhododendrons and is an excellent and FREE home-grown substitute for peat.