...using the logic of ecology

using leaves in Italian gardens by Jonathan Radford (Autumn 2009)

In Italian gardens during the autumn, across the length and breadth of Italy, there is something happening to all deciduous trees, all at about the same time! In the autumn, an amazing change takes place but it’s one of the most natural process’ that we can enjoy in the natural world. Autumn and the fall of the leaves is taking place and there are few places better than Italy to witness and even take part in this natural spectacle. From the bright yellow-leaved larix decidua of Northern Italian gardens, the poplars of Piedmonts’ gardens to the chestnuts of Tuscany and Umbrian gardens – Italian gardens and the landscape surrounding them is changing fast!
The terracotta reds, butter yellows and warm ochre’s of the Italian autumn herald, not only the arrival of delicacies of the Italian landscape such as truffles and porcini, chestnuts and wine but also a whole host of seasonal dishes that reflect this season in Italy. In the Italian garden everything is preparing to eat seasonal dishes as well, from the dormice under the walnut trees in most city parks to the wild boar of Tuscany. Leaves are falling but also fruit, nuts and all the berries of a summer of hard work from the part of the plant kingdom. All of these, as you all know end up on our lawns or on our flower borders in Italy during the fall. However , no matter how beautiful the leaves of Italian gardens can be they are generally greeted with a touch of contempt from many Italian gardeners.
Scenes of small fires can be seen amongst the chestnut trees at dawn, as the chestnut husks are hurriedly burnt where they lay in piles. Dustbin lids don’t shut in city streets due to the leaves and other organic debris that is hurriedly shoved in them, in the rush to dispose of all that wonderful compost! It does hurt, I have to say it, as a garden designer living here in Italy, when I see a total disregard for the principles of making compost in Italy it makes me want to write an article about it, but I won’t. However, I will write about what one can do with leaves and why we should be thanking them. For leaves, like most organic debris, form the basis of the food chain in the Italian garden and become a key factor regarding saving water in Italian gardens. A healthy, well-made compost heap or just a carefully placed pile in the shade of a tree, is great for turning a beautiful Italian fall into beautiful Italian compost!
The leaves of certain Italian trees are harmful to lawns, however, owing to their powerful tannins that the tree uses to kill off any green competition growing under its canopy. Trees, such as walnut, oak and lime (Tiglia) all possess these weed-killing properties and should be instantly raked-up from where they gather on an Italian lawn. However, when the leaves of these trees are composted for 6 months or more the tannins disappear from the compost so it is safe to use as a superb mulch on any shrub border. Care must be taken when making compost from chestnut leaves or other leaves with a highly acidic content (low pH) as these can clearly lower the ph of the compost, affecting certain Mediterranean plants, like lavender for example.
The Italian gardener’s of the Renaissance knew all this of course and the leaves were thrown in to the concimaia (Italian compost heap) along with the farm waste
Basically, the Autumn / Fall months in the Italian garden should really be spent raking away leaves from lawns and using them to create luxurious Italian garden compost, worthy of any Italian garden or even a Versace bash, for that matter!