leaf mould

[cookie]

Is it ok to use lime tree leaves mixed with beech leaves as a compost.I have approx. 30 bags to use if it is suitable.

[cookie]

[saddad]

I can't think of any reason why not, Pine and Laurel in large quantities can be bad but think those are OK... see what the others say!
8)

[supersprout]

Yes. Lucky you! :o :D

[manicscousers]

wow, you've struck gold, I'm getting a bit wierd about leaf mould, I keep thinking I want a cordless vacuum for picking up leaves and will go around gathering them up, Ray thinks I've lost it :P

[Columbus]

Hi Cookie,  :)

I would take all thirty bags and more. I collect and rot leaves in heaps for a year before digging them into the soil. This year I grew pumpkins and marrow on the heaps.

Lucky you,  :) Col

[wahaj]

do you think it's odd of me to think about going down to the local park with a rake and collect bin bags full of fresh tree leaves?

in the dark ofcourse....otherwise i might get beaten up.

[supersprout]

not odd at all wahaj, a lot of us do it!
watch out for dog poo tho >:(
people won't notice you collecting leaves - wear overalls and try to look bored ;)

[wahaj]

not odd at all wahaj, a lot of us do it!
watch out for dog poo tho >:(
people won't notice you collecting leaves - wear overalls and try to look bored ;)

lol kewl. there are a LOT of leaves here. so i mean how am i supposed to make it once i've collected loads of bag fulls?

[supersprout]

the lazy way -
collect leaves when they are dampish, and cram as many as you can into plastic bags
tie the top
barrow them home
pierce bag a couple of times with a fork
stack out of the way in a shady spot
forget them for a year
LEAF MOULD! ;D

[triffid]

And the textbook way(!) ... for the quantities you've got, this may be worthwhile. 

Basically, all this needs to be is a large square (4 foot square or so) with the corners made from 4-by4s, fence-posts or similar, with the side walls formed from chainlink/chicken-wire fastened to the corner posts. Site it by the compost heaps or wherever seems sensible.

A lid of old carpet or something porous but heavy will stop your leaves from blowing away.

Chuck all the leaves in. They need to be damp (water them if they aren't): if they dry out they don't make leafmould, more leafcrunch...   ;)

[supersprout]

found that out the hard way triffid ... LEAFIBIX! :-[ ;D

[triffid]

 ;D

me too.

Can't use the fork-poked bags method on our site; the foxes think we've left them wonderful toys. They pull em around, tear em open, toss the leaves about ... 

(*realises we have asbo foxes*)

[Columbus]

Hi all,

I collect mine from local streets with a big bike trailer, I`m past worrying what people think but most who take an interest are friendly anyway.
Sometimes you can get the local council workers to drop off a truck load if you ask.

Col

[wahaj]

nice! thanks for the help guys.

I'll still wait till sunday night i think when the street are really quiet.

[artichoke]

Lime tree leaves are particularly good as they rot down faster. We have 5 lime trees which have provided masses of compost over the years, but sadly we have had to pollard them, and there won't be so much this year :'(

(They were shading out neighbours' gardens and windows).

[manicscousers]

be careful going around the park in the dark, I'm getting worse about leaves, I just think it's all so much waste :o

[wahaj]

be careful going around the park in the dark, I'm getting worse about leaves, I just think it's all so much waste :o

yea....theres a big light where i'll be collecting the leaves...it's right in front of the mayor house so...lol.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Leaf crunch is good stuff for mulching; if I dig out the mature stuff from the centre of our leaf mountain, it's too solid, and not much can grow through it.

[supersprout]

thank you robert! good idea, will spread on a non windy day ::) :D
when I said I used leafmould for mulching on a course at barnsdale I got a proper wigging :-[

[Robert_Brenchley]

Once it gets well rained on, it becomes much more resistant to blowing about.