MONTY Don has revealed how fallen leaves can boost the health of gardens throughout autumn.
He shared his tips for quickly making outdoor space look tidy following the mess created by Storm Ashley.
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Heavy rain and strong winds have left many gardens worse for wear with plants damaged and leaves scattered.
Monty revealed in a post on his blog that the same advice he gave homeowners last October still applies.
He recommended using fallen leaves for a supply of leaf mould, which he describes as “garden gold.”
The natural material can be used as an alternative to store-bought compost.
“I am obsessive about making leaf mould,” he said.
“Gathering as many of the fallen leaves as possible, mowing them to chop them up and then stacking them in a big open heap.
“They break down into a lovely rich, crumbly texture and become an essential component of our home-made potting compost.”
Monty advised against throwing away fallen leaves in favour of using them to provide cover for small animals and insects.
He quickly sweeps leaves into piles under hedges and trees along with piles of prunings and logs.
He said this provides “essential winter protection” for creatures such as hedgehogs and frogs while also contributing to the garden’s health.
Fallen leaves can be neatly stored in a DIY leaf mould bin until they’re needed.
“If you do not have somewhere to store them sort this out early in the month,” he said.
“A simple bay made from four posts and chicken wire is ideal.”
According to Gardeners’ World, a leaf mould bin should be at least 1 metre cubed.
October gardening jobs
The Sun’s Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the jobs you need to tackle in October.
“It’s a good time to trim deciduous hedges – like box, yew, hawthorn, hornbean and beech – plus hedge trimmers are a great upper body workout!
Make leafmould – gather up all the fallen leaves and fill either bin bags or plastic carrier bags. Seal the top, stick a few small holes in the bag – and then store for a year or more. Free compost!
It’s unlikely you’ll get any more red tomatoes so have one final harvest and chuck the plants on the compost. See if you can get the green ones to ripen by putting in a drawer (some say with a banana). Also keep the seeds from a couple – and plant again next year if they went well.
Finish getting in your spring bulbs. Ideally you’d have done daffs and alliums, but tulips are better in the ground when the soil temperature gets a bit colder.
It’s good to leave some plant litter in the ground – it adds to the nutrients as it rots down, and provides shelter and food for insects. But remove the manky brown bits collapsing all over the lawn/winter structure.
Mulch – it not only suppresses weeds, but keeps the soil warm, improves water retention and adds a little winter duvet to your outside space.
October’s a good month for carrots, peas, asparagus, broad beans, and rhubarb.”
Tree planting posts should be knocked about 30cm into the ground with 1 metre kept above the ground in each corner.
Mesh can be stronger than chicken wire for a leaf mould bin that lasts for years to come.
Leaves are best collected and put into the bin after a dewy or wet morning as dry leaves struggle to rot.
Monty Don has urged gardeners to also get busy this month with pruning climbing roses.
The task is crucial for ensuring the plant blooms next spring.
He said a “really sharp tool” is necessary for reducing damage and creating clean cuts.
“Use loppers for stems too thick for easy cutting with secateurs and a sharp saw for anything that strains loppers,” he added.
