Make your own soil and mulch from autumn leaves and grass clippings

Fertilizer

Despite the fact that soil and potting soil are some of the most fiddly things there are, it's not difficult to make your own – and it's a nice compliment to store-bought soil. Here are some of the methods that transform autumn leaves and grass clippings into garden gold.

Written by: Liselotte Roll

Swedish garden inspirer, journalist and author of books about nature, cultivation and animals, such as "Soil", "Grow for insects" and "Chickens as a hobby".

Reuse the soil in plant boxes and pots

Plants need good, nutrient-rich soil to grow properly, but used soil in plant boxes and pots doesn't need to be thrown away; it can easily be made good as new. Here are the tips you need to save both time and money.

Soil and fertilizer

Soil and fertilizer when you are going to sow and cultivate

When sowing seeds and growing plants, there are a few things you should consider to get healthy, strong, and vibrant plants. The right soil at the right time is one of the most important.

Soil and fertilizer

Manure from animals - a great resource in the garden

All plants need nutrients to grow – some more than others. But what exactly is the difference between the different types of manure? Here we take a closer look at the options available and how fertilizer can help plants thrive.

Fertilizer

Buy the pot that the soil eats up

Now you can buy plants in a biodegradable pot! Plant the plant together with the pot in the garden, and the pot will disappear completely in six months! In the meantime, it protects the plant's roots and gives the plant time to get used to its new environment.

Outdoor plants and garden

Soil and fertilizer for outdoor plants

Good soil and fertilizer are important for healthy, fresh and beautiful plants throughout the season – regardless of whether you plant directly in the garden or in outdoor pots, planters, and boxes.

Soil and fertilizer

What many of us consider to be debris and junk from the garden, which we gather together in a pile or take to the recycling center, can easily be turned into good soil with simple steps.

Grit, sand, and grass - the simplest soil

To take care of grass clippings and leaves and let them return to nature instead of the recycling station is both good for the environment and especially for the garden. One of the simplest ways to make your own soil is to mix half grass with half sand/gravel (size 0-8 mm) in an airtight bag. This should be left for about a year in shade or partial shade. The soil you produce in this way becomes an excellent flower soil. The nutrients last for about half a year without the need for fertilization, but make sure the mixture is well aerated a couple of days before planting in it.

Recycle autumn leaves - make leaf mold and leaf compost

Leaves are also a valuable resource that can be added to a sack - preferably in combination with grass. Some types of leaves compost slowly, for example maple leaves and oak leaves, which you may want to avoid if you want results within a reasonable time. Composting is fastest if you first run over the leaves with a lawnmower. Leaf mold can be beneficial for both vegetables and flowers, especially if you have heavy clay soil that needs to be loosened.

A simple version of leaf mold or leaf compost can be made by filling a plastic bag with leaves and then watering it thoroughly so the leaves become completely wet. Make about ten holes in the bottom of the bag so excess water can drain out. If you want a coarser compost, you can add twigs and wood chips. But be careful not to add too much wood, as it is carbonaceous and slows down composting. To speed up decomposition, it is a good idea to add a couple of handfuls of soil, preferably from a compost pile.

When making leaf mold, the bag should sit for at least one year, and afterwards the mold is ready to be mixed into beds and on the ground to improve soil structure. You are not creating pure soil, but rather something that enhances the soil you already have. When the soil structure is porous and good, plants have better conditions to grow roots and absorb nutrients.

Fermentation

Another way to make use of leaves and other green material is to ferment it. You put leaves, weeds or grass in a bag and then sprinkle bokashi powder over it - or spray it with EM - effective microorganisms. It contains yeast and bacteria that benefit decomposition and microorganisms, and works wonders when the material is later mixed with soil.

It is important to squeeze as much acid out of the bag as possible and make it completely airtight - otherwise the material will rot. During fermentation, it is enough to wait 2-3 weeks, as the goal is not for leaves, grass or weeds to completely decompose at this stage, but to be infused. The actual decomposition occurs later, when the material enters the soil.

Fermented green material is useful to mix into soil that needs new life, and it provides a lot of microorganisms and earthworms.

Leaves as protection

Dry leaves can also be used for storage and protection - for example, you can store flower bulbs in them over the winter. Dahlias and gladioli thrive excellently in a small box with leaves that are kept cool.

The leaves are falling

It is also wise to rake leaves together and let them lie in flower beds and on the ground. It will provide better soil when the leaves break down. If you layer leaves thicker, they will protect the soil from weeds, benefit microorganisms, and provide a more consistent soil temperature. If the leaves are on the lawn, you can cut them with a lawnmower. This will break them down faster, as microorganisms will have more surfaces to attack. The smaller pieces will be easier for earthworms and insects to eat.

WRITTEN BY

Liselotte Roll, Swedish garden inspirator, journalist and author of books about nature, cultivation and animals, such as "Earth", "Gardening for Insects" and "Chickens as a Hobby". (Photo: Sandra Birgersdotter Ek)

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