leaf mold

1. Humus or compost consisting of decomposed leaves and other organic material.

2. A fungal disease of plants that chiefly affects foliage.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

leaf′ mold`

1. a compost or layer of soil composed chiefly of decayed leaves.

2. any mold that forms on leaves.

[1835–45]

leaf mold

The pleasant-smelling, flaky material that results from the decomposition of leaves.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

leaf mold - soil composed mainly of decaying leaves

leaf mould, leaf soil

mould, mold - loose soil rich in organic matter

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

What If the mountain is too far, he says, then make your own leaf mold soil.

Jadam ultra low-cost agriculture

Instead of raking and bagging them, dragging them to the curb and paying for them to be hauled away, they can be shredded and used in the garden now or turned into leaf mold to use next year.

Autumn leaves are a gift

There is the tenderness that lasts until the trees turn to leaf mold.

Let Me Never Count the Ways

In place of peat moss, perlite and vermiculite (the three leading ingredients in bagged potting soil), you can simply combine your best soil with cured compost, leaf mold, rotted sawdust (from untreated wood) or a long list of other organic ingredients.

Make your own potting soil: you can save money by using your own soil and compost to make potting mixes your plants will love

But most importantly, in order to survive for a second season, they require the white, stringy fungus found in leaf mold. All woodland natives grow naturally in thick blankets of rotting leaves.

Creating a garden landscape: award-winning gardener Anne Geitzen goes native in the garden

All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.