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Piling leaves around trees
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10-11-2004, 11:56 PM
Volfie
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"Phisherman" wrote in message
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On Wed, 10 Nov 2004 16:31:39 +0000 (UTC),
(Will
Renkel) wrote:
I have several neighbors who are piling their leaves around
the base of their trees. The piles are about 2 feet high
and about 4-5 feet out from the base of the tree.
Can someone enlighten me on the pros / cons of such a process?
I would think it could kill the grass.
A thick layer of leaves will weaken or kill the grass. Piling leaves
around the base of a tree is not a good idea because
- tree bark needs to breathe and should not be covered
- encourages rodents/insects to take up residence
- moisture may lead to harmful mold/mildew
Having said that, leaves are nature's winter blanket and as leaves rot
nutrients are returned to the soil. I may pile leaves on a tree or
shrub that needs extra protection, but not an established tree.
I always pile leaves in the gardens for wintering. Is that a bad idea, too?
Giselle (I figure it's sort of an effortless mulch/protection until spring)
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