Garden

[Lilysmom]

Do any of you do this?  Use mulched leaves in your flower beds?  I have never done it and wonder what the pros and cons are.  I have A LOT of leaves.  TIA. LM

[Desertdi]

We used to do it back in the "old days"........when we also had a steaming compost heap!

[JustJazzmom]

@Lilysmom

I haven't done this as my lawn crew is very much like this cartoon:

But, oak leaves do not mat like maple leaves do (if left on lawns). Oak leaves are acidic too so that's a boon for those who want to slowly change the pH of their soil to be more acidic. Pine needles are acidic too.

Just make sure they are mulched into small pieces so they can dissolve and decompose faster.

[Lilysmom]

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@Desertdi wrote:

We used to do it back in the "old days"........when we also had a steaming compost heap!

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@Desertdi, Was it messy?  Were you dirty every time you came out of the garden?  Maybe I should try this in one spot?  LM

[Lilysmom]

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@JustJazzmom wrote:

@Lilysmom

I haven't done this as my lawn crew is very much like this cartoon:

But, oak leaves do not mat like maple leaves do (if left on lawns). Oak leaves are acidic too so that's a boon for those who want to slowly change the pH of their soil to be more acidic. Pine needles are acidic too.

Just make sure they are mulched into small pieces so they can dissolve and decompose faster.

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@JustJazzmom, why would I want my soil to be more acidic?  I don't know the answer to that one but I know you do!  LM

[MalteseMomma]

I always thought that is why leaves fall naturally.to protect and feed the next yr produce.I always wondered why we all blow them away ????

[JustJazzmom]

@Lilysmom

Why would I want my soil to be more acidic?

I was speaking in general terms, certain areas of the USA, west of the Mississippi River have more alkalinic soils due to the minerals found there naturally. Some people want to go organic so pine needles and oak leaves do help lower the pH.

Other products do too like Soil Acidifiers and Sulfur or Aluminum sulfate.

[Lilysmom]

@MalteseMomma, I know some leaves do not breakdown (oak, for example) and can kill a lawn.

[Lilysmom]

@JustJazzmom, so it makes things (only certain things?) grow better?

[JustJazzmom]

@Lilysmom

The things I mentioned help certain plants gain access to fertilizers and nutrients better if the soil is the proper pH for them.

Example: if you have an azalea in alkalinic soil, its going to be a lot harder for the azalea to access any fertilizer you put down for it than if you attempt to decrease the pH and then apply the fertilizer. Let me see if I can find that chart.

Look at the graph on this form and you will see what I am talking about:

How to take a soil sample - Cornell Cooperative Extension

ccenassau.org/resources/soil-testing-sheet