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Avatar for Frillylily
Apr 4, 2015 5:31 PM CST
Thread OP
Missouri (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Identifier
I'd like to use shredded leaves on my flower/veggie beds. Can I just put them on? Do I have to mix them with anything? If I pile them up will they compost or do I have to add grass clippings to them also?
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Apr 4, 2015 6:39 PM CST
Name: Larry
Enterprise, Al. 36330 (Zone 8b)
Composter Daylilies Garden Photography Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level Plant Identifier
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Region: Alabama
What type of leaves are they? I ask that because with some leaves you also get thousands of little seeds like ash tree leaves. So if they are old dry leaves and have been shredded and aren't full of seeds you don't have to add anything. If you add fresh grass clippings they could heat up like compost and you don't want that. Old dried grass clippings are fine with leaves. I use a ton of leaves and over the period of a year an inch or two of shredded leaves will decompose and be eaten by worms and other things, so that by next year it will be time to add more.
Avatar for Frillylily
Apr 4, 2015 7:25 PM CST
Thread OP
Missouri (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Identifier
well I don't have any leaves presently, but I was thinking since people are cleaning up for the spring, maybe I could post a want at on craigs list for shredded leaves. I did not think about the seed thing. I do know maples around here seed like crazy and I probably don't want those in my beds. I think red buds do also. Maybe I should advertise for oak leaves? Thing is alot of people just clean up their yards and may not even know what they have.
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Apr 4, 2015 9:02 PM CST
Name: Larry
Enterprise, Al. 36330 (Zone 8b)
Composter Daylilies Garden Photography Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level Plant Identifier
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Region: Alabama
You're right, most people would have no idea what type leaves they had.
Avatar for Coppice
Apr 5, 2015 5:04 PM CST
Name: Tom Cagle
SE-OH (Zone 6a)
Old, fat, and gardening in OH
yes just lay leaves on. They can cold compost in place.
Avatar for Frillylily
Apr 5, 2015 5:32 PM CST
Thread OP
Missouri (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Identifier
yes! Thank you! I'm gonna try this!
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Apr 7, 2015 5:02 PM CST
Plants Admin Emeritus
Name: Evan
Pioneer Valley south, MA, USA (Zone 6a)
Charter ATP Member Aroids Irises I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Tropicals Vermiculture
Foliage Fan Bulbs Hummingbirder Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Composter Plant Identifier
I just wish I had more leaves to use as mulch.
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Apr 18, 2015 12:27 PM CST
Name: Mone
Chicago between O'Hare & Lake (Zone 6a)
Plumerias Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Bee Lover Birds Hummingbirder
Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Dragonflies Frogs and Toads Butterflies Beavers Irises
Evan,
I always grab my neighbors' leaf bags whenever they are set out in the alley by their garbage cans. Last fall I had no time to shred them so 20+ leaf bags have been sitting in my backyard waiting to be shredded. Sighing! Glare
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Apr 18, 2015 12:37 PM CST
Name: Jean
Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a)
Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier The WITWIT Badge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Sages
Shredding makes them breakdown faster, but is not really necessary if you are mulching with them.
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Apr 18, 2015 2:50 PM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
I agree
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Apr 18, 2015 3:41 PM CST
Name: Larry
Enterprise, Al. 36330 (Zone 8b)
Composter Daylilies Garden Photography Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level Plant Identifier
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Region: Alabama
But they look so much more attractive when shredded!
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Apr 18, 2015 6:23 PM CST
Name: Jean
Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a)
Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier The WITWIT Badge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Sages
True, but you can use both...just top dress with the shredded leaves. Stretches the life of your mulch and still looks nice.
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Apr 18, 2015 7:58 PM CST
Name: wayne
memphis (Zone 7b)
Keeper of Poultry Region: Tennessee
Moonhowl said:True, but you can use both...just top dress with the shredded leaves. Stretches the life of your mulch and still looks nice.


I think this is the way to go. In my experience, the shredded leaves don't hold moisture as well and therefore don't provide worms with the best conditions to thrive. I don't know if I'm drawing a solid conclusion there or not, but I do know that keeping my leaves and mulching with them has transformed my soil in a little less than four years. Initially I would find one worm in maybe every third shovel of dirt. Now I find several each time I turn the dirt over.

Check out this big dude I found last weekend. I get excited every time I find a worm this size. For reference my ugly shoe there is a size 13.


Thumb of 2015-04-19/wayne/0014d8
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Apr 18, 2015 8:45 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
LOL, that is definitely a "keeper" worm, Wayne!

I totally agree -- over the years we've added a LOT of grass clippings and leaves to the garden -- I use it to mulch during the gardening season, and then till it in, usually once late in the fall and then again early in the spring -- although last year the ground was just too wet and I never did get it tilled, and everything just kind of disappeared anyway. Lots and lots of worms now, where we originally had basically none; I love seeing those guys up on top of the ground on a wet early morning -- we have some really huge nightcrawlers, I could probably sell them to the local fishermen but would rather leave them to work up the garden for me! Smiling
“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." ~ Albert Schweitzer
C/F temp conversion
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Apr 19, 2015 10:05 AM CST
Name: Jean
Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a)
Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier The WITWIT Badge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Sages
Nice healthy worm, Wayne. Around here we know the worm population is good when we start seeing the Worm Snake in larger numbers.

http://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes...

I agree Sandy...let the fishermen grow their own worms Thumbs up
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Apr 19, 2015 12:48 PM CST
Name: wayne
memphis (Zone 7b)
Keeper of Poultry Region: Tennessee
Moonhowl said:Nice healthy worm, Wayne. Around here we know the worm population is good when we start seeing the Worm Snake in larger numbers.

http://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes...

I agree Sandy...let the fishermen grow their own worms Thumbs up


Wow Jean I didn't even know the worm snake existed! I've been under the assumption I was seeing the eastern brown snake but this makes more sense. Thank you :)

http://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes...
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Apr 19, 2015 4:03 PM CST
Name: Jean
Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a)
Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier The WITWIT Badge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Sages
You are most welcome, Wayne. It is always enjoyable to share something new.

I learned about the Worm Snake in a moment of sheer panic...my oldest son, at the time 8 y/o, came strolling into the kitchen saying "Mom, look at this cute little snake I found." Into a jar and off to LSU's Herpetology Dept. They only grow about a foot long at maturity, and the one in the jar was maybe 7 or 8 inches long. I just knew it was going to be a Child-eating monster.... Whistling That was over 30 years ago and he is still very much into creepy-crawlies but much wiser about handling them. Thumbs up
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Apr 19, 2015 6:32 PM CST
Name: wayne
memphis (Zone 7b)
Keeper of Poultry Region: Tennessee
My first worm snake encounter happened on my front porch. I was standing on the ground working with some planters on the porch...say chest high. I moved a planter and there was this worm snake just staring at me. I mean I didn't freak out but I didn't know what to think of this miniature beast in my face. At first I just thought it was an abnormally feisty worm, but it was obviously a snake. It took nearly 12 months to spot another one, but I'm just glad to know they are out there. I just didn't know why I was glad until now Smiling
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Apr 19, 2015 6:35 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
I've never heard of a "worm snake," either -- but maybe that's because we don't seem to have them here, according to the map. We do have some little snakes that look very similar from the top, but their belly is orange -- not sure what the official name is, but we call them "copper bellies" up here. Really cute little guys!! (okay, I really do like snakes -- had a garter snake frequenting my garden a couple of years ago that I named "Slitherin'" (from Harry Potter) Whistling (but, then again, it's probably easier to like snakes when you live where there are no poisonous ones...)
“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." ~ Albert Schweitzer
C/F temp conversion
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Apr 19, 2015 6:42 PM CST
Name: Lyn
Weaverville, California (Zone 8a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Level 1
Moonhowl said:True, but you can use both...just top dress with the shredded leaves. Stretches the life of your mulch and still looks nice.


Jean ....

I mulch with shredded leaves twice a year. It only took one wind storm to convince me that shredded leaves were the way to go in my garden. They stay put ... Big Grin

When I started the garden, I had dead soil. The shredded leaves were sufficient to bring it back to life. I have a no till garden and have never tilled the leaves into the soil. I still have plenty of worms.

Smiles,
Lyn
I'd rather weed than dust ... the weeds stay gone longer.

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