UCGs

Used coffee grounds. Go to Starbucks, many will give you theirs.

if you are a true whacko you can pull out some of the un shereeded leaves...run them over with the mower your hubs won't let you use.....

and begin to get truly hooked on a hobby you will never outgrow.......

R

Wouldn't a true wacko enthusiast just say pi$$ on it?

LoL

On the serious side, I like the UCG suggestion. Unless of course you have some fresh grass clippings? I'm never surprised by what you folks way down south can get in the dead of winter.

Lloyd

"Wouldn't a true wacko enthusiast just say pi$$ on it? "

Aww you beat me to it!

Oak leaves, whole, unshredded, are difficult for the bacteria to digest and they often can last for years even in the presence of lots of Nitrogen, due to the large amount of tannic acid (a preservative) that is in them. Even when mixed in with Maple, Beech, Birch, Chestnut, and many others Oak leaves, when whole, will still be there a couple of years later. If there is any way to shred them that would be best because covering them with soil will not help.

Well I am a true wacko I told the neighbors I was trying to grow leaves when they questioned what I was doing. Did I look that foolish? It is pretty close to the time mowers will be in stores and I will get one I can push. I'll try mowing where they are. Rider needs something fixed. It tends to go when you don't want it to go. He wants a new one & I think this one could be fixed! More money for me to spend in the yard! I don't have a Starbucks close but maybe the convience store would save UCG for me.

Unless the leaves are deep enough to insulate themselves from the cold they're not going to do much now in Zone 6. Shredding helps them to decay when conditions are favorable. The microbes that decompose the leaves can only be active during warmer temperatures. When conditions are right the addition of soil and supplemental nitrogen are going to hasten the process. Those things could be added now but are unlikely to speed the process until spring arrives.

How deep is your layer of leaves?

The leaves are around 3". There's still plenty around. I'm not doing much until the weather is warmer unless there is something I need to do now. Temp is 60 now but we are still waiting for ice to melt from the last storm so the yard is muddy. Hopefully the piles will be gone today. I'm just getting spring fever.

If you have a leaf blower see if it will bag anything. Pick up the leaves with the suction attachment. The leaves will not be very fine but if they were dry when picked up the pieces will be smaller than the whole leaf. To make pieces smaller roll the sack on the ground a couple of times.

kimmsr---oak leaves ...get a good lawn mower with a bag ....raise it up on the highest wheel level,,,

rake out the leaves fairly level--they need to be fairly dry for best results -preferably on some part of your lawn but the driveway will do..

run over with the mower bagging as you go...

will take several bags ...empty often...

makes great stufffffffffffff.........

R

What were you planning on planting? If it were me, and I'm really lazy, I'd just dig a small, 3 or 4 inch diameter hole through the 3 or 4 inches of leaves, the paper will be a soggy mess and easy to go through, and just plant your stuff in the soil underneath - and let the microbes / worms take care of the leaves when they feel like it.

How much mulch and what kind of mulch is on top of the 3" of leaves? It's probably not thick enough anyhow so you can build it some more. I'd keep adding stuff, mostly greens (UCG, grass clippings, veggie kitchen scraps, maybe alfalfa tea) on top. It's way too much work to redo and it will eventually break down. Keep it damp.

If it's not decomp'd enough at planting time you could perhaps get some good bagged soil to put in the planting holes. I wouldn't put soil over the entire thing. You are *making* soil, you shouldn't have to buy much.

Hang in there it will happen. :-)

David52 I am lazy and can understand the making holes and planting. It will be mostly perennials. The yard is mostly rocks and hasn't been planted so I thought I would try to work the soil some.

Maifleur, We have a leaf blower and it creates such a mess I gave up on it. I had better luck running the tiller over the leaves to shred them! I will make another GOOD effort with it then probably get a push mower with bag.

luckygal, There is only a little mulch on top of the leaves,so that won't be a problem. I was thinking good soil on top this spring or at least some. I'm in Ozarks and we have alot of rocks!

I'm not sure what the problem is?

I'd plant in it?

What did you use for mulch on top of leaves?

I used shredded cypress I think. But was very little so won't be a problem. Was something I had laying around. I was just trying to get some soil because our soil is so rocky. I remove the rocks but they keep growing. I think I was doing a lazy version of a lasagna garden.