Ugh - water hyacinth. The search for viable uses continues. That stuff is all around here in SE TX - it can really choke off waterways. The short answer is yes, and it has been done. The plant is about 90% water, so as it decomposes it may become rather wet and gooey underneath. The leaves will probably decompose very quickly, the stems a bit slower, and the roots may last through a full season. If the source is not on your property, like if it's from a public waterway, pond or lake, you probably should check with the local natural resources or parks/wildlife folks. Two concerns are (1) that you can remove and relocate the plants for your purpose without stumbling into some regulatory issue, and (2) that they aren't being treated with an herbicide for control. There are a number of herbicides that are used and you wouldn't want them in your garden.

I agree with The Virginian. I'm trying to replace some of my lawn with shrubs and flowers, so whenever I need a new area cleared, I lay down cardboard, then whatever organic material I can get my hands on. One of my neighbors gives me his grass clippings, so that usually goes on first. Last fall, I collected 30 bags of leaves one afternoon, and shredded that, then laid it down over the grass clippings. I've been having a ball all spring, watching various kinds of birds pick through it, looking for bugs. Besides eliminating the need to cut off the sod, by the time I plant an area, the top few inches is actual soil. (Under that, unfortunately, is pure, heavy, clay.) Shredded leaves, raked out evenly, look just as nice as mulch, IMHO.

Hi Maude - Thanks for hoping on, I waited a while & since no one responded I called a nursery to find out ... "NO" was the response - too heavy, will mat down & might suffocate my Hydrangeas. In a way I was glad I didn't, as this past Winter was the snowiest from beginning to end, in a long while! A friend wanted all my bags & bags of collected leaves for her raspberry bushes - so, were put to good use. I know Old Gingko is a she, now - only started fruiting in the past 6 or so years. He was planted in the early '80s as a none-fruiting tree ... grew so handsomely tall and majestic that I have always called him my Prince! 2005 was a bumper-crop year (whew & phwee!!!) & dreaded each year after that. The following year must have been a rest year for fruits ... 2 wks of subfreezing temps in April of 2007 must have killed all the buds ... I'm not sure what's in store this Fall. I understand that U of I & I-State had taken down all the beautiful Gingko trees along their campus curbs. I'm hoping that the tree experts will come up with a solution yet ... it'll break my heart to take this majestic tree down! Lilycrazy - Gingko is a stately tree with beautiful, leathery, fan shaped leaves that turn to amazingly beautiful, glowing, golden yellow in the Fall & drops all at once when Mother Nature snaps! The fruits are fleshy with edible kernels (give foul smell as fruit disintegrates) - native of China, Japan & Korea - the only surviving species of Gymnosperms that flourished during the dinosaur age. Bible stories claim this to be the tree-seedling, Noah brought on the Arc, to save from the great deluge. Gingko Biloba is used as memory boosters. Thanks again for your interest! :-) Ditas

If you suspect that any of your tomato leaves have a disease, the best thing is to cut them off, take them as far away from your garden and dispose of them. If you leave them in your garden you can spread disease to your healthy plants. Have a great day! Patti