Mulching is a natural way to build up soil and add nutrients, but if you let your leaves stay where they fall they can create a natural habitat for pests and some diseases. If you put your leaves in a compost pile you may notice that many are still intact while the vegetable matter is broken down.

This is because many leaves that fall during autumn contain “liguen” a protein, which rots by fungi instead of bacteria, causing the leaves to take longer to break down.

The best way to make leaf mold is to separate it. Take a large black plastic bag, tie the bag closed, then puncture it all over and store it for about a year. Make sure you give the pile enough time to break down.

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