GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

01-11-2003, 12:02 PM

From: Phisherman

On 29 Oct 2003 14:08:43 GMT, (WARRENRN1) wrote:

it is that time of year again..... and since i live at the end of a
cul-de-sac....i get covered with everyone's leaves.....
since i like to veggie garden.... what is the best way to store the
shredded
tree leaves that i get from my yard.... the garden is too wet to dig them
in.... can i rototil them in next spring ?? should i be adding anything to
them (ie: fertilizer) or just let them winter over ??

After shredding, we put our leaves in the compost bin and watered
them. The next day the bin was steaming hot. In the spring we will
add the black compost to the vegetable garden.

I mow my fall leaves, as well as shrub trimmings and any other vegatative yard
debris with the exception of larger diameter tree branches. Dump into a leaf
pile and if handy, add a little lawn fertilizer and/or limestone and let it
cook. I *might* turn the pile twice. Doesn't seem to matter whether I do or
not, between the natural composting action and the worms the pile always breaks
down completely.

Each spring I have more black gold than I know what to do with. I spread as
much as possible on the lawn, under shrubs and around plants & vegetables.