Leaves

[vron]

Hi everyone, can you tell me if collected leaves can be dug directly into our allotments without composting them first, it seems such a long drawn out process otherwise.

When leaves have fallen onto our garden and other open spaces they have completely disapeared by the spring into the soil!!!!!, yet they take ages to rot down in a compost heap??

Our plot is divided into 4 beds and I am very tempted to try it on one of the beds that we are thinking of using for our runner beans.

What do you think.

[Peter]

Wind, Worms and Weather will deal with leaves on the ground.

Dig them in and you are left with Worms and they are protected by the weather. In the process of rotting they will "take" nitrogen from the soil, thus reducing its fertility. Plastic bags are a good route to leafmould, remember to aerate them after filling and tying. Stab em with a fork a few times.

[Alice]

Yes, you can dig or rake the leaves straight in Vron. The worms will take care of everything. I don't use beach leaves as they just take forever to biodegrade and just blow about in the wind.

[vron]

Thankyou

Thank you Alice and Peter for your replies.

I am left wondering whether to add them or not as the case maybe, would a loss of nitrogen affect the growing of the runner beans.

It has been over 30 years since we last had an allotment and technology has galloped along leaving me behind in some cases.

[Alice]

You could run your own trial Vron. A little bit of the appliance of science. Put the "raw" leaves on one half, and composted leaves on the other, and check the results. And post the findings so we'll all know.

[vron]

Leaf trial

Thanks again Alice, this is something that Derek and I talked about.

We are of the opinion give it a try if it works great, if it doesn't 'well never mind eh'.

Then again there's always next time, and we would learn by our mistakes.

I will chat with Derek later, if we go ahead we will let you know how things work out.

Many thanks again.

[Alice]

Hello Vron, well there's the perfect world and what is achievable for you. That's how I look at it. You have to work out what the leaves are for. I always wanted them primarily for improvement in soil condition (I garden on clay ! You can pray for me if we're allowed to say that anymore) Certainly a great soil conditioner. If you want them to add nutrients to the soil then maybe you need a degree in biochemistry to work out exactly at what stage the leaves should be added.
Anyway, as I said before, go for a trial and let's know how it works.

[pigletwillie]

a good way to get leaves to break down quicker apparently is to run them over with a mower which chops them up into small pieces. I havent tried this as I have no lawn and thus no mower.

[vron]

Thank you

Thank you for all the replies, we are still debating what to do.

'HAPPY NEW YEAR' to every one.