leaf mold

noun

1

: a compost or layer composed chiefly of decayed leaves

2

: a mold or mildew that affects foliage

Examples of leaf mold in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If your bed is already planted, topdress the soil with a few inches of organic matter like wood chips, straw, leaf mold, or pine bark instead of mixing it into the soil. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 29 July 2026

Leaf Mold Before raking up your leaves in the fall, consider using them as leaf mold to boost soil health. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 25 June 2026

Upon transplanting her seedlings, McDonald suggests generally starting off with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, like blood meal, when transplanting small seedlings into the soil, then adding a leaf mold compost, which is organic matter, to help improve the soil's health at that time. — Mallory Carra, The Spruce, 9 June 2026

Next, blanket the area with a 2-inch-thick layer of mulch, such as shredded bark, leaf mold, compost, or pine straw. — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1724, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for leaf mold

• ahold
• behold
• billfold
• blindfold
• cajoled
• consoled
• controlled
• cotswold
• eightfold
• enfold
• enrolled
• extolled

Kids Definition

leaf mold

noun

: a compost or layer composed chiefly of decayed leaves