One of my personal 'rules' is to not take at face value statements made by people trying to sell me something! ;-)

While I regularly use unfinished compost as mulch I would never use it to grow anything in. I'd use it as top-dressing/mulch. I'd also water with alfalfa tea for extra nitrogen.

Lucky, are you suggesting the alfalfa tea because the unfinished leaf compost will steal N from the soil?

Anyone else have an opinion about this? Would it hinder or help my seedlings to incorporate this partially decomposed leaf compost into my garden soil this time of year?

Thank you

I won't seed directly into leaves incorporated into the soil until the soil has had a good chance to break down the leaves. Been there, done that, didn't have good results.

Lloyd

First you are thinking of purchasing stored leaves perhaps with a bit of decomposition....not much. If you put this material in and try to grow in it you are in for a surprise.

You may use that material safely as a mulch. By fall it can be tilled into the soil. By next Spring those leaves will be decomposed and be a positive improvement to your soil.

I suggest mulching now, tilling in the fall, followed by a cover crop and light tilling again early next spring.

I have expanded my current garden by using newspaper, leaves, and composted cow manure covered with clear plastic in October. Now we have uncovered and the leaves nor newspaper are decomposed now.

My DH is tilling this new area up now and I'm wondering if we continue tilling till the leaves are well chopped can we plant purple hull peas or other pea seed in this mixture?

Also, been cleaning windows with newspaper and vinegar. Can I put this newspaper in compost barrel?

Thnks for your comments - Chris

I have never had a problem growing anything in my garden soil when i have added leaves and tilled them in the super early spring (like mid February). We use a cover crop in the fall and winter, then add leaves and till under. You cannot find a trace of cover crop or leaves by mid-April when we plant the garden. However, I believe it largely depends on the climate. That's just my opinion though, have no scientific research to back it up. We warm up pretty quick in the spring, so the soil organisms have plenty of time to take care of the garden spot. I would think with a short resting period before planting, if you tilled it in, you should be okay if you are in a warmer environment. The first time we did this method, we tested an area about a quarter of the garden space. We figured that way, all was not lost if it didn't work. Good luck!

It's too late now to incorporate it into my soil and expect it to decompose before planting. I guess I'll save it for fall.

But out of curiosity, what would happen if I did mix it in and then plant in it? Would the resulting crops be nutrient deficient because everything is tied up by the leaf decomposition?

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I'd listen to Lloyd.

As far as the cow manure stuff in LA, I'd say what was lacking was air. After you guys are done tilling, leave the cover off and let sit a little while. Spring has sprung in LA already so think of the fall.
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Here is what happens to wheat seeded into a leaf/soil mix with not enough time to decompose the leaves.

Like Norma says, if the leaves are tilled in early enough (BTW, you people who can work their soil in February make me wanna cry!) for the soil to break them down I don't think it's a big of an issue. I've found that 8 weeks is long enough because that's what I've tried. I also know 3 weeks isn't long enough, but I don't know if something in between is adequate.

It would also depend on how much N was available in your soil to begin with, biological activity in your soil, how many leaves you're incorporating, moisture content of the soil and probably a dozen other variables that I'm not aware of.

Lloyd

OK, thanks all.