Garden

[Lilysmom]

@Desertdi, the bug thing, good to know😨👍!  LM

[ValuSkr]

@Lilysmom  Here's good information about shredders - it's from last week's public radio program You Bet Your Garden (which I recommend! it's about organic gardening).  Scroll down to the second question on the page, though the first question on composting is also good.

Shredding Leaves

[GingerPeach]

Ground leaves (notice I said "ground" not whole) are wonderful as mulch.  They may start out acidic, but as they break down further lose their acidity and become more neutral.  This is also true for pine needles.  Once those turn brown, they are no longer acidic.

Mulch is wonderful for helping keep moisture in the ground.  It doesn't add as many nutrients as we may think (unless the ground leaves are added to a compost pile and then placed on the ground as compost).

http://20minutegarden.com/2011/06/18/compost-versus-mulch-whats-the-difference/

The only thing in that article that isn't quite accurate is that "mulch" is anything that covers the ground around plants, not just organic material.  There are plenty of other articles and books about these subjects.  

Mulch or compost can be used (and probably should be used) around plants, but only compost is of value on a lawn.

[JustJazzmom]

@GingerPeach

I would have to say that all mulches can cover the soil, but not all mulches are organic. Rubber mulch is one example of a non organic mulch.

Mulch is different than compost. Compost can be used as a mulch but not all mulches provide nutrition to the soil the way compost can.

Many people use those two terms interchangeably.

[JustJazzmom]

Mulches do several things:

1) with a 2-3" layer around the plants, it stops most weeds from germinating. Be sure to not pile the mulch around trees or shrubs as crown rot can occur and it acts as a warm environment for fungi and vermin (mice) to reside.

2) It keeps soil temperatures even and prevents the freeze thaw that causes plants to heave out of the soil.

3) With a proper layer of mulch, the soil remains moist below it and you will water less because the water cannot evaporate as easily from the soil if covered with mulch.

4) Depending on what mulch is used, it does provide some nutrition to the surrounding plants as the mulch breaks down or decomposes. The exceptions are bluestone pebbles, marble chips and rubber mulch,. Marble chips may raise the pH of the soil because the limestone leaches into the soil from the chips themselves.

[GingerPeach]

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@JustJazzmom wrote:

@GingerPeach

I would have to say that all mulches can cover the soil, but not all mulches are organic. Rubber mulch is one example of a non organic mulch.

Mulch is different than compost. Compost can be used as a mulch but not all mulches provide nutrition to the soil the way compost can.

Many people use those two terms interchangeably.

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Exactly, @JustJazzmom  That's why I linked to a piece describing the difference as well as included this qualifier:  The only thing in that article that isn't quite accurate is that "mulch" is anything that covers the ground around plants, not just organic material.  

In one of my horticulture classes I was the only one who got the answer right about mulches because I included "dead bodies" as an option.

I used to have a wonderful compost pile, and later a compost bin, but now my backyard is too small to host such a thing since it's basically a patio with a few strips of ground next to it.  

[Lilysmom]

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@ValuSkr wrote:

@Lilysmom  Here's good information about shredders - it's from last week's public radio program You Bet Your Garden (which I recommend! it's about organic gardening).  Scroll down to the second question on the page, though the first question on composting is also good.

Shredding Leaves

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Thank you @ValuSkr!  I appreciate that and an very interested.  LM

[Lilysmom]

Thanks for sharing everyone.  Such good information.  LM

[mousiegirl]

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@Lilysmom wrote:

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

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@Lilysmom  Yes, every year, and they are also added to the compost box.  Leaves improve the soil structure in addition to keeping the weeds down, the thicker the mulch, the less weeds you will have, I believe.

[RinaRina]

Instead of raking ALL my leaves in the fall, when I get lazy, I just mulch them with my lawn mower.  I don't know if the mulched leaves "do" anything, but it sure beats raking them.  LOL!