Re: compost leaf mold as mulch

This batch of leaves that I brought home 2 yrs ago from a large property a mile from my house (they have since cut down every tree!) doesn't seem to have weed seeds. A friend brought me his leaves last yr and I stocked them in a different spot. I ended up getting rid of them this spring- they were loaded with seeds. The only seeds I've come across on the older pile are maple seedlings from samaras that fell on it and germinated.
I'm still thinking about applying mulch, but for now just watching to see how the compost alone does. It does seem to crust a bit, but not impenetrably. Water goes through it; doesn't run off. Besides, at the moment I am out of the free mulch and the pine mulch. May have to pick up a few bags. 

Kitty
neIN, Zone 5
----- Original Message ----- From: <holmesbm@usit.net> 
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Saturday, July 04, 2009 10:36 AM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] compost leaf mold as mulch



I have used it....makes wonderful  soil.  Since you haven't turned it, you
may find that it has also accumulated some seed.  I would put a layer of
leaf or regular mulch over it.



[Original Message]
From: Pam Evans <gardenqueen@gmail.com>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Date: 7/4/2009 10:40:56 AM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] compost leaf mold as mulch
I do both Kitty, compost first then a layer of mulch (cedar in my case) on 
top.  Seems to work well here anyway.

On 7/3/09, Kitty <kmrsy@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> I just finished remaking my large Hosta bed.  It was filled for almost

10

> yrs with some nice hostas, but then parts of it began developing fungal
> problems and the maple tree roots grew up into the soil.  It took a few
> years to dig it all out and sell most of it off, replanted some nice

ones

> elsewhere.  Then I had to rebuild the soil which took me another year.

But

> this week I tackled it. Tilled, ammended, conditioned, fertilized
> (organically), and it came out looking pretty good. Today I planted > it. 
> When it came to mulching I had some choices.  My usual pinebark mulch,

some

> scrap mulch from the city, or leaf mold.
>
> I have a  big fence-bin of composted leaf mold about 2 yrs old, never
> turned.  It's rich dark brown and comes out in chunks when I dig into

it.  I

> rub it through a sieve and get the most beautiful rich, fine-particled
> humusy material that if used as a mulch, I would hope would break down

and

> continue feeding my soil.  Has anyone here used compost as a mulch?  Is

it

> adequate for keeping soil moisture in and weeds out?  Or should I put a
> layer of regular mulch over it?
>
> Kitty
> neIN, Zone 5
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--
Pam Evans
Kemp TX
zone 8A

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18:11:00

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