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Started By
Message
Leaf Pile
Posted on 4/9/24 at 11:21 am
Posted on 4/9/24 at 11:21 am
I still have a substantial leaf pile from winter.
I bet it is quite broken down under the surface.
Would you put it on your lawn, flower beds, or both?
Apparently it is about a 1.0 - 0.1 - 0.5 fertilizer.
I bet it is quite broken down under the surface.
Would you put it on your lawn, flower beds, or both?
Apparently it is about a 1.0 - 0.1 - 0.5 fertilizer.
3
Posted on 4/9/24 at 11:26 am to bayoubengals88
Decomposed leaf matter usually makes for some real good composted material for garden beds.
It would have been beneficial if you'd have turned it over several times a month to get it to break down more evenly.
The only issue I've had with composted leaves is when using oak leaves since a lot of the time there's quite a few acorns mixed in and those things will start to grow and you could wind up with many little oak trees sprouting in your garden.
It would have been beneficial if you'd have turned it over several times a month to get it to break down more evenly.
The only issue I've had with composted leaves is when using oak leaves since a lot of the time there's quite a few acorns mixed in and those things will start to grow and you could wind up with many little oak trees sprouting in your garden.
Posted on 4/9/24 at 11:29 am to gumbo2176
quote:Never too late I suppose. The heat should speed up the process.
It would have been beneficial if you'd have turned it over several times a month to get it to break down more evenly.
Thanks!
Posted on 4/9/24 at 11:36 am to bayoubengals88
quote:
Never too late I suppose. The heat should speed up the process.
Thanks!
Keep the pile a little damp too as this also helps things decompose.
Posted on 4/9/24 at 11:41 am to gumbo2176
quote:
Keep the pile a little damp too as this also helps things decompose.
I randomly figured this out. I have a 4 wall structure I made out of scrap wood that I throw my leaves in and one year I had the sprinkler hitting it and it decomposed probably 5x faster and I can fit way more in there. Makes sense, but never thought to do it intentionally.
A few times a year I toss my food compost in there and mix it up. I think I could sell that stuff it's so good for the garden.
Posted on 4/9/24 at 11:54 am to CatfishJohn
quote:how big?
I have a 4 wall structure I made out of scrap wood that I throw my leaves in
Posted on 4/9/24 at 12:04 pm to bayoubengals88
48"w x 48"d x 48"h (roughly)
Made it out of old pallet boards I took apart, doused it in leftover water seal from my deck, then stapled scrap landscape fabric on the inside. It's pretty ugly, but it'll do the job for a few years and was fun to build while drinking a few beers one Summer.
I mulch the leaves in the Fall from my maples into finer pieces and dump in there and either it rains or I run the sprinkler (it's next to my raised garden). It doesn't hold all the leaves from the Fall season, but will handle a few mulch sessions worth if I compress it down. Then it rots all Winter and I throw food compost in there when it's ready to be moved from my composter and mix it up.
ETA:
I actually just planted my row of tomatoes for the year used a bunch of my homemade compost. Fun to re-use your waste to grow some heirloom tomatoes!
Made it out of old pallet boards I took apart, doused it in leftover water seal from my deck, then stapled scrap landscape fabric on the inside. It's pretty ugly, but it'll do the job for a few years and was fun to build while drinking a few beers one Summer.
I mulch the leaves in the Fall from my maples into finer pieces and dump in there and either it rains or I run the sprinkler (it's next to my raised garden). It doesn't hold all the leaves from the Fall season, but will handle a few mulch sessions worth if I compress it down. Then it rots all Winter and I throw food compost in there when it's ready to be moved from my composter and mix it up.
ETA:
I actually just planted my row of tomatoes for the year used a bunch of my homemade compost. Fun to re-use your waste to grow some heirloom tomatoes!
This post was edited on 4/9/24 at 12:06 pm
Posted on 4/9/24 at 1:42 pm to CatfishJohn
Toss some green grass clippings on top and it will compress and heat up the pile and break it down. Can also add torn up chunks of cardboard as well. It all breaks down eventually. They say turning is a big factor.
Posted on 4/9/24 at 1:58 pm to MDB
I mulch with my mower so there's always a hint of grass clippings mixed in!
I do worry about lawn weeds or seeds from the grass getting in there and sprouting in my garden, but it hasn't happened yet.
I do worry about lawn weeds or seeds from the grass getting in there and sprouting in my garden, but it hasn't happened yet.
Posted on 4/9/24 at 3:50 pm to bayoubengals88
What you're aiming for is leaf mold. That comes with well broken down leaves. A pile of leaves will get there eventually, as in several seasons of sitting, but shredded leaves will get there faster. Shredded leaves that are kept moist and turned will get there even faster. Bags of shredded leaves with a little water added occasionally and a few holes for circulation will get there in a single Winter if left in the sun and turned/flipped occasionally.
The issue with piles, or even with layers of whole leaves as mulch is that water doesn't penetrate evenly and air doesn't flow very well. That can cause problems in manicured areas. In a more natural setting piles/mulch layers provide more for the creatures living in and around it.
The issue with piles, or even with layers of whole leaves as mulch is that water doesn't penetrate evenly and air doesn't flow very well. That can cause problems in manicured areas. In a more natural setting piles/mulch layers provide more for the creatures living in and around it.
Posted on 4/9/24 at 3:56 pm to bayoubengals88
I put mine in a geobin and mix it every couple of weeks with a drill auger. I add it to my garden every spring. Works well and breaks down quick if you keep them wet. I usually mulch them one day then back them and dump with the mower the next.
Posted on 4/9/24 at 4:03 pm to MDB
There's a subreddit dedicated to compost and has a really great list on how composting will work. Most of that will apply to breaking down old leaves as well.
Posted on 4/9/24 at 6:00 pm to Loup
quote:
I put mine in a geobin and mix it every couple of weeks with a drill auger. I add it to my garden every spring. Works well and breaks down quick if you keep them wet. I usually mulch them one day then back them and dump with the mower the next.
You can sprinkle in some alfalfa meal or add some chopped up alfalfa hay/straw to speed it up even more. Cottonseed meal works, too, but may have some residual herbicides/pesticides in it.
It really does make a huge difference as an activator for any compost. If you struggle getting compost to heat up, just try sprinkling some on each layer as you add it.
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