Clearing autumn leaves from your lawn may be a boring job, but it’s vital for the health of the grass.

Leaving leaves where they fall will starve your lawn of light and can quickly cause fungal disease.

Once you’ve done the hard work – don’t throw away the leaves! These can be added to your compost heap or bin or, if you’re gathering large quantities, try making a leafmould.

Leafmould is great for top-dressing containers such as Rhododendrons and Camelias and adding to rockeries and woodland plants.

It’s also really easy to make:

Step 1:

Place the damp leaves into black bin liners with a few air holes added using a garden fork.

Step 2:

Tie the tops of the bags and stack them in a shady spot out of the way.

Step 3:

Leave the bags until the following autumn, by which time the leaves should have broken down to form a rich, crumbly mulch.

For a finer top-dressing, leave longer.

**Take care when opening the bags not to breath in any dust or spores. This stuff is excellent for plants, but not so great for your lungs!