Making use of leaf mould

img_3357The sun is shining at last in London. And with it cold brisk weather. I love it. Especially as I have such a huge collection of cardigans and jumpers.

I look like a forest nymph in greens and russets and yellows. Sorry, no picture. Instead I offer you stunning shots of a leaf mould cage.

Being emptied.

Quite thrilling you must agree.  This is a woodland garden here in leafy Hampstead. And that means I will be spending the next month raking and storing and trying to keep the grass alive.

I was mooching about this morning in the sunshine – planting pansies if you must know. And I thought I should go and investigate the leaf cage Kevin built last year.

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I grubbed about a bit (mind the cashmere, this is grubby work) and found the lovely black gold beneath the leaves.

So it has been a happy hour spreading the stuff on all the raised beds, the hydrangea, peonies, strawberries, newly planted raspberries, the gooseberry and with a bit of effort – the magnolias and camellias.

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I have to haul the stuff through the house to the front garden, up a few flights of stairs. And then spend more time cleaning up after me.

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There are some ailing shrubs in this garden. Deficiencies. The soil is quite rubbish – builder’s rubble and clay.  So I am taking the opportunity of this down time to get some product onto the shrubs. Home made compost, leaf mould, and in a bit, some fish blood and bone or a seaweed fertilizer when I track it down. (I know exactly where it is in the potting shed, but that’s the wrong garden. In the wrong country.)

Right now the squirrels and other creatures are way too active grubbing up what I am putting down. So I might wait a bit for the smelly stuff.

All fun and games.