Leaf mulch

[Plumb garden]

Hi Everyone

I was lucky enough to get an allotment plot in May and have been busy clearing the weeds so far this year. My lovely hubby has been building raised beds, out of reclaimed floorboards, and laying the foundations of a greenhouse so I should be ready to get going come spring.

We've also built 3 composters out of pallets, but I have a question. I have been collecting leaves this week and put them into one on the composters. Originally I thought you were supposed to leave them to do their thing (over a few years) but I've just read I should be perhaps adding them to my main compost (green waste) to get the best results for both.

I am now a little confused. Would anyone mind sharing some gems of wisdom on leaf mulch?

Many thanks

[BertieFox]

Not all leaves are the same and some, like poplar leaves, will inhibit germination and plant growth, while still fresh. Such leaves should be composted for a year before use.
Much depends on where you want to use them. I would have no hesitation in using all types of leaf mulch around things like fruit bushes and fruit trees, but I would not dig it in in the vegetable garden until well composted.
Try taking a look at what happens in nature, and you will see there are many 'barren' patches around certain trees whereas others have lots of plants growing around them in spring.

[Two_Sheds]

I thought you were supposed to leave them to do their thing (over a few years)

If you mix them with your normal compost stuff (kitchen peelings etc) it will slow them down.

I've tried all ways to compost leaves, and the best way, imo, is to mix them with grass clippings if you can (this speeds them up), inside black plastic sacks. Damp leaves, punctured sacks. Ready in 6-18 months.

[snohare]

You can do it as TS says, or in larger quantities such as 1 tonne builder's bags; again, they want to be damp. Personally, I always try to mix as many different types of leaves as possible, preferably adding some fresh ones as well as brown ones - freshly fallen ones have a bit more nitrogen, adding that to the cellulose(carbon) of dead ones helps speed decomposition, as the grass cuttings do. In that respect, this is just like a compost heap, where getting the correct mix of moisture, nitrogen and carbon is very important.
And of course, if you put pee on them that helps... (Not like TS to be so delicate and not mention it ) The reason for that is that ammonia/urea is quickly broken down by bacteria into nitrogen, which boosts decomposition enormously.
Myself, I always add a mix of soil or compost, and a bit of urine if I can, and I find that with a builder's bag this can speed up the process to a matter of say 3 -4 months; but that's turning the bag into more of a compost heap really. Pure leaf mould, once it breaks down totally, is much more suited to potting up seedlings, and I think that's why many people prefer to keep it entirely separate from the compost heap - finer texture, homogenous qualities, no lumpy bits that haven't broken down.
If you are adding leaves to compost heaps, my suggestion to a beginner would be put a layer of green (nitrogen rich materiel) then a layer of brown(carbon) then add accelerant (urine, manure or soil); then every few days mix the layers with a garden fork before repeating. No need to be thorough, clumps of one and the other next to each other actually works better. And of course, keep a cover of some sort on top, to prevent it getting too wet. (I use several layers of cardboard.)

[Two_Sheds]

leaf mould, once it breaks down totally, is much more suited to potting up seedlings

It's got almost no nutrient in it, so is ideal for sowing seeds (which have all the nutrient they need to germinate, inside the seed).

If you're going to use it in a general way, say as MPC, then you'd want to feed your plants

[snohare]

Oops...knew it was something small I used it for...

[horticultural_hobbit]

I second the builders bag motion. Have four cooking. I didn't think it was 3-4 months though. Thought it might take longer. Guess if it is activated with things, it would be

[ann-the-nan]

Thanx H.H. Food for thought, as well as the compost bin. Very useful :-) From one Brummie to another _ "Ta. Sgood,init? "