walnut leaves

[womble]

I have the option on a whole load of leaves to make leaf mould out of, problem is there are a couple of walnut trees in amongst about 6 or 7 other trees.
I've read that the leaves can interfere with other plants growing.

What I'd like to know is, have any other grapes made leaf mould with a certain percentage of walnut leaves and how did it work out.

OR, does anyone know if I leave the leaves long enough, will this chemical leach out of the leaves to make them benign?

[Nicos]

An interesting question!

I found this...just skip through to the interesting bits....I'd have come to the conclusion not to use the leaves though....

<b>Black Walnuts? No Worries!</b>


Urmm...what exactly is a black walnut?...or is it an American version of our walnut tree- that might make a slight difference as to the toxicity?????

[Two_Sheds]

Walnut leaves can be composted because the toxin (juglone) breaks down when exposed to air, water and bacteria.
Elisabeth C. Miller Library: Gardening Answers Search Results for "Juglans"

[Nicos]

I like the idea of testing it with baby tomato plants first...( esp if freeby home grown ones!)


I just think there are so many zillions of other leaves to collect instead that I wouldn't bother- just have a nice bonfire! ( I wonder if the ash would be toxic???)

[Two_Sheds]

there are a couple of walnut trees in amongst about 6 or 7 other trees.
I've read that the leaves can interfere with other plants growing.

All walnuts (English Walnut is juglans regia) produce some juglone, as do the walnut relatives bitternut hickory, hickory, pecan and shagbark. However the amount of juglone produced is insignificant, compared to the black walnut (juglans nigra), and the effect on other plants is minimal, if any ...when black walnut leaves are composted, they tend to degrade within 2-4 weeks, depending on their exposure to water, air and soil organisms. Black Walnut Toxicity - What Can’t I Plant Under a Black Walnut Tree?

Black walnut ... produce[s] the largest quantity of juglone and can cause toxic reactions with a number of other plant species that grow in their vicinity. Other juglone-producing species including English walnut, pecan, shellbark/shagbark/bitternut hickory, produce such small quantities of juglone that toxic reactions in other plants are rarely observed. http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/...t_toxicity.htm

[womble]

Wow thanks, I expect I should have consulted google first, but I hoped I might get first hand experience.

I'll read them all later, I've just been instructed to peel some spuds atm

[snuffer]

I have a massive walnut tree in our garden. I have never made leaf-mould but do add the fallen leaves to my compost heaps. I have been doing this for years and have never noticed any detremental effect.

As far as I am aware the previous owner of the house also did the same. That means the veggie garden has had composted walnut leaves put on it every year for, at least, the last forty years.

Go ahead and use them, as others have already said, there should be no problem.