Make your own soil conditioner

IT can be a bit dispiriting when, each autumn, a blanket of fallen leaves covers your garden lawn, flowerbeds and paths. They smother grass, encourage moulds on plants, and are a haven for slugs and snails, so they have to be moved. However, they are also a huge opportunity. If gathered and stored in a bin or a bag, they’ll break down into a wonderful humus-rich soil conditioner called leafmould that you can use all around the garden.