Illustration: Permaplans
Leaf litter
Leaves and fine twigs: carbon-rich material for compost, mulch and the compost toilet.
Leaf litter is the "brown" half of every good compost. It loosens the heap, soaks up excess moisture and balances nitrogen-rich kitchen scraps (C/N ratio around 50).
Where from? Autumn leaves, chippings from pruning and the leaves that come with pollarding. In forest gardens much of it simply stays on the ground as mulch and feeds soil life directly.
What for?
- to balance the compost,
- as cover material in the compost toilet – it binds smells,
- as mulch under trees and shrubs.
In Garden Survival every lopping and felling gives leaf litter, depending on the crown area; it lies in the stores and can go on the compost.