There’s gold in them there leaves

Composting autumn leaves takes time but is worth the effort, writes Kitty Scully.

AS autumn gives way to winter, the light fades and temperatures fall, and leaves surrender their green colours to brilliant shades of yellow, orange and red before falling to the ground.

Falling leaves are a survival mechanism for a tree as it slips into dormancy for the winter. They will become a free source of organic matter and mulch for that tree. If these leaves are falling on your driveway, making it slippy, or blanketing your lawn, then leaf mould is the answer for you.