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Leaves
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Topic: Leaves (Read 2724 times)
Lamplight
Not So New ...
Posts: 16
Leaves
«
on:
January 01, 2004, 22:08:57 »
My Allotment is very heavy clay and I try to get as much humus in it as I can. however leaves take a long while to rot so I have started to dig them in directly. Over the past three years they seem to be conditioning the soil realy well, I have been advised against this practice as apparently some chemical reaction takes place while the leaves are rotting. Any views would be welcome as I want to know if it is OK to keep applying the leaves directly. Cheers
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Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 by 1077926400
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Anthony M Squire, Treasurer, Wilshamstead Allotment society.
markymark
Quarter Acre
Posts: 78
red wine .....just devine!
Re: Leaves
«
Reply #1 on:
January 01, 2004, 22:18:36 »
Hi Lamplight
Leaves sound okay to me, although if you can get your hands on it (not literally!) some good old Farm Yard Manure would improve the structure no end.
In my last garden it was so clayey (if there is such a word?) it also benefited from some coarse grit for a bit of drainage. If you can get it right, clay soil can be fab.
Good luck :)
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Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 by 1077926400
»
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Greenman aka Markymark
Mrs Ava
Hectare
Posts: 11,743
Re: Leaves
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Reply #2 on:
January 02, 2004, 03:48:33 »
I thought the reason you don't add things like leaves directly to the soil before they have rotted down is because of the nitrogen they use to break down......they take before they give it back..... ??? However, forest floors are lush and there is nobody there to rake up the leaves there. I have left leaves on my flower beds in my garden this year, and I have forked a fair few in on the allotment. Now we are going to be told that we shouldn't do it :-/
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Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 by 1077926400
»
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tim
Hectare
Posts: 18,607
Just like the old days!
Re: Leaves
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Reply #3 on:
January 02, 2004, 13:34:54 »
LL - think you've picked up 'our Dan's' icon?
Not that anyone will will lose sleep = Tim
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Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 by 1077926400
»
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The gardener
Acre
Posts: 378
In gardening-Effort in generally equals effort out
Re: Leaves
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Reply #4 on:
January 02, 2004, 19:32:36 »
A couple of things here;
1) The rotting down process takes 'nitrogen' an essential element for all plant growth...........throw on a composting activator or some lime on to the leaves and this will help to rot them down faster.
2) The leaves in the forest situation............you will most likely find here the ground will be quite acid, this is the reason I use lime to sweeten the ground up a bit.
3) Don't apply lime at the same time as a fertiliser....the two will react with each other.........this is why I spread lime (where necesssary) prior to the onset of winter to allow the winterrain/snow to take the lime in the soil.
I then apply my fertiliser a few days before planting out time.
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Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 by 1077926400
»
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The Gardener
Muddy_Boots
Hectare
Posts: 787
Re: Leaves
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Reply #5 on:
January 04, 2004, 19:54:43 »
At the risk of offending but I hope I don't, there is another way to accelerate composting! Save your p** and pour it on! Our waste chemicals would appear to accelerate decomposition!
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Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 by 1077926400
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Muddy Boots
budgiebreeder
Hectare
Posts: 1,293
West Yorkshire.
Re: Leaves
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Reply #6 on:
January 04, 2004, 20:05:22 »
Bet that starts the professionals off Muddy
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Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 by 1077926400
»
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Earth fills her lap with treasures of her own.
Muddy_Boots
Hectare
Posts: 787
Re: Leaves
«
Reply #7 on:
January 04, 2004, 20:31:47 »
Well, as a very frustrated gardner, now with no garden, I have to get a start somewhere!
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Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 by 1077926400
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Muddy Boots
gavin
Hectare
Posts: 1,099
Good gardening!
Re: Leaves
«
Reply #8 on:
January 04, 2004, 20:33:25 »
Professionals? Bunch of p...-artists!
Aaaah! They have a use after all!!!!!!!! :) :) :)
All best - Gavin
«
Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 by 1077926400
»
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