Re: fall clean up
- Subject: Re: fall clean up
- From: M* T*
- Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2001 01:35:15 -0400
Well, Claire...there is a 3rd good use for them. Chop them up via
lawn mower or leaf vac and use them as mulch...great mulch.
Have you done any testing on pH of oak leaf compost? The leaves
contain tannin, I know, but I swear the compost I make with them
turns out to be neutral...of course, I have not done any actual
testing. Hubby got me this gizmo that supposedly tells you what the
pH of your potting soil is. Of course, didn't get a battery to go
with it and I have yet to do so. If I ever get a battery for it,
intend to see if it will tell me what my potting soil pH is..and that
of the leaf mold I make with 99% oak leaves. Then (if the gizmo is
at all accurate) will know. IF I get this far, will try to remember
to post the results:-)
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
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> From: ECPep@aol.com
>
> The oak leaves do make acidic compost by themselves. Added to all
the other
> materials it does not seem to be a problem. We have naturally in
this
> mountainous area, soil with a very low pH. Blueberries grow in our
lawn or
> what serves for a lawn. I have learned to avoid or identify high
pH plants.
> Dianthus is very sensistive. There are many plants wanting a high
pH. Some
> iris, centranthus, delphinium, lilac, most alpines, quite a few
more. If we
> want to plant one of these we fill the hole with rubble from
plaster
> demolition. This may not be easy for all to find but overtime we
had quite a
> supply of it. Mix it around in the planting hole and it lasts
longer than
> the lime application.
>
> Those oak leaves are pesky things. They dry stiff, blow all over
the gardens,
> do not break down easily and fall all winter and through the early
spring.
> They have one good use, maybe two. After the cold frames are
really cold, a
> bit frozen, we fill them up with oak leaves which do not mat down.
Some old
> garden recipe called for putting a garbage can full of oak leaves
and water
> to sit for a month or so and then pour the "soup" on the rhodies
and azaleas.
> Since it is, again, a job, probably most people just buy what
they need at
> the garden center.
>
> Claire Peplowski
> NYS z4
>
>
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