RE: fall clean up
- Subject: RE: fall clean up
- From: M* D*
- Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 09:41:21 -0700
- Importance: Normal
Marge, Claire & all the leaf rakers out there, (and think of the exercise
we are getting!)
At least when you are dealing with leaves from deciduous trees, the leaves
will compost and make beautiful leaf mold. I have 6 giant Douglas Fir trees
on my 80'x125' city lot that drop cones, twigs, needles, branches, and
"widow makers" all the year around (every time the wind blows) - and none
of it composts. Yes one can chip the branches if one has a very stout gas
powered chipper ( (I don't), but the little stuff goes right through a
chipper and comes out the other end looking just the same. One would think
the needles would make a wonderful compost - wrong. They are covered with a
resin that prevents them from decomposing. And they are too small to use as
mulch like one can do with pine needles.
One positive thing is that I save small branches with green needles that
come down in the fall and use them to make little "winter teepees" over
perennials that benefit from some dead air space. Either to increase frost
protection for marginally hardy plants (Hebes & Phormiums come to mind) or
to shed excess water away from the root zone of perennials that will rot
during our heavy winter rains (Penstemons & Salvias). Also, if one is
crafty, an evergreen wreath can be made with the small branches.
A second good thing is the amount of wildlife that the trees support - And I
don't need air conditioning.
By the way, people around here seem to think that oak leaves are way too
acidic to make good compost. Does anyone agree with that? I think the pH
could be adjusted with dolomite lime - yes? I have to go to a nearby city
park and rake leaves to bring home for my compost heap! I don't get enough
leaves from my 2 deciduous trees (magnolia & flowering cherry) to make great
compost.
We are having the best fall color here that we have had in several years.
Hope it is colorful where you are too, Marilyn
Marilyn Dube'
Natural Designs Nursery
Portland, Oregon
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-perennials@mallorn.com [owner-perennials@mallorn.com] On
Behalf Of Marge Talt
Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2001 1:18 AM
To: perennials@mallorn.com
Subject: Re: fall clean up
That said, they are majestic trees and I wouldn't want to lose
mine...but you do have to resign yourself to leaf clean up about year
around.
In my experience, any large trees generate surprising amounts of
debris all year; leaves and twiggy bits that fall, not to mention
pretty large branches that come down periodically, as well as seeds
that create seedlings that have to be pulled. I guess if you only
have one or two large trees, it's not so much an issue. On a heavily
wooded property, it is a major time consumer in the clean up dept.
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