RE: Olive leaf mulch

The only cautionary note I would add about applying shredded garden debris directly has to do with how you irrigate.  If you are counting on spray irrigation for areas that you cover with a deep mulch much over 4 inches, it can sometimes cut off penetration by rain and irrigation to the soil below.  I have seen this happen where the shredded mulch was too thick, and compacted so much that the mulch caused the soil underneath to stay way too dry.  If you aren't irrigating at all, or use drip at the soil surface, it is not a problem, except that it can still interfere with rainfall penetration.  I'd advise not putting it on more than 4 inches thick, and make sure it is not so dense and compacted that it cuts off water penetration from rainfall/overhead irrigation.

I think it is a great idea to shred garden prunings and use them as mulch if you have the room to do so, it is an excellent way to recycle nutrients and at the same time, reduce the need to haul away to the dump.  The only things I wouldn't recommend using in this manner would be weedy things that have gone to seed already.  I don't know if your olives are already fruiting, and whether you may have problems with insect infestations of the fruit; there are problems with this here in parts of California, and it wouldn't be a good idea to use this as mulch if it will exacerbate a disease/insect problem of your olives, especially if you are cultivating them for the olives.

--- On Thu, 10/15/09, Pamela Steele <pamela.steele@re-taste.com> wrote:

From: Pamela Steele <pamela.steele@re-taste.com>
Subject: RE: Olive leaf mulch
To: "Margaret Nottle" <margn@internode.on.net>, Gill.cei@wanadoo.fr
Cc: "'Medit-Plants'" <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Date: Thursday, October 15, 2009, 3:47 AM

Thank you both very much ..its helpful;
 
Pamela
 -----Original Message-----
From: Margaret Nottle [mailto:margn@internode.on.net]
Sent: 15 October 2009 02:16
To: Gill.cei@wanadoo..fr; pamela.steele@re-taste.com
Cc: 'Medit-Plants'
Subject: RE: Olive leaf mulch

That’s what I do too.

 

Trevor N.

 

From: owner-medit-plants@ucdavis.edu [mailto:owner-medit-plants@ucdavis.edu] On Behalf Of Gill.cei@wanadoo.fr
Sent: Thursday, 15 October 2009 2:39 AM
To: pamela.steele@re-taste.com
Cc: Medit-Plants
Subject: Re: Olive leaf mulch

 

Hi Pamela,

I shred much of our garden waste, including olive tree prunings, and put the result directly onto the garden.  I've been doing this for about 18 months and it seems to work well as a weed suppressant and helps water retention.  I put the 'shred' on in thick layers of 8" plus since it soon settles. Need to avoid areas of the gardeen that are too windy tho.

Gill Pound
Nr Carcassonne,
S France

Pamela Steele wrote:

Does anyone use chopped green olive leaves for mulch?.  We have alot after pruning the trees.  I cannot seem to find any benefits or indeed disadvantages in using them.  I have been reading about some gardeners using the shredder and then putting the clippings straight on to the garden. Much easier than composting.

 

Pamela

Costa Blanca

has notified the sender that this message has been received.

 

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