AQ- leaf takes time to to break down. 1 year to 18 months but it does not need to be fully broken down to be useable. A couple of things can help speed the process up. If you have a leaf collector it helps by chopping them up and it is then useable straight away as a mulch or can be composted. Moisture - dampness not soaked will help and mixing in some grass clippings in next spring will also speed it up and produce a richer mould. Really they are best collected after it has rained so they go into that fab. leaf bin damp:)
Caroline in Jersey
We had a wormery for quite a few years, it was brilliant. It became a bit too heavy to cope with, so I passed it on to someone else; was sad to part with it. I always found there were two things the worms didn't 'eat' - tomato skins, and the outer part of potato skins (related plants), but once finally added to the soil they disapeared as well. I used to lift the top off for our resident female blackbird to help herself to worms!
So, I should make it warmer- which I already do with the compost- and piling this year's on top of last doesn't matter. Do they break down at the same rate?
I also note the point about grass cuttings. I have been assiduously keeping them separate. It doesn't matter?
When thou seest an eagle, thou seest a portion of genius; lift up thy head!
And really, I can add this year's to last's? Will that not just delay when I can use it?
Hi AQ, it depends......If you are intending to use it as a top dressing/soil conditioner you could dig out the current layer now if you want to. If you are happy to wait a bit add this years on then add some clippings in the spring, give a good stir and forget about it for a while. Leaf mold does not need to be fully composted to be used. Don't compact it hard as that delays the process and you end up with claggy clumps. HTH
Thank you