Adding more :)

So... My grandpa (who was an avid gardener who composted pretty much all that could be composted) once told me that the leaves of some trees are NOT good to add: apparently the leaves of Oak and Walnut trees (I just looked it up) contain gallic and tannic acids and juglone, respectively. I always thought it was a pity since he had an enormous walnut tree behind his house. The walnut did keep the mosquitos away, though, and we always had lots of walnuts (and black finger tips!) at harvest time.
Do you guys make sure to not include certain leaves, or doesn't it really matter as long as you blend in enough other stuff?
 
SpiritFarmVa said:
Leaves composting seem to attract worms. They tear that up. It’s great. I saw one market farmer in England that uses year old leaf compost as his seed starting mix.
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I mix it into my seed starting, new arrival (purchased bare-root), and up-potting soil. Works like a charm! Truth in lending, I purchase it from a really good mom and pop nursery nearby and am pretty sure it does not contain oak.
 
Schoenie said:
So... My grandpa (who was an avid gardener who composted pretty much all that could be composted) once told me that the leaves of some trees are NOT good to add: apparently the leaves of Oak and Walnut trees (I just looked it up) contain gallic and tannic acids and juglone, respectively. I always thought it was a pity since he had an enormous walnut tree behind his house. The walnut did keep the mosquitos away, though, and we always had lots of walnuts (and black finger tips!) at harvest time.
Do you guys make sure to not include certain leaves, or doesn't it really matter as long as you blend in enough other stuff?
Click to expand...
My yard mainly gets covered in oak leaves and pine needles. So that is what gets composted. The worms and plants seem to love it. :)
 
GoodFriendMike said:
My yard mainly gets covered in oak leaves and pine needles. So that is what gets composted. The worms and plants seem to love it. :)
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Good for you Mike!
Maybe the oak leaves are not all that bad after all (or... things get diluted enough by pine needles or wash out fast enough).
Where I live, it's mainly clay... When I was planting a tree last summer (when it hadn't rained in months), I had to use a pick axe (!) to create a planting hole... And with the ongoing drought here in CA, the soil level in my garden has decreased by at least 4 inches in the last 10 years. I wish I had that beautiful black soil that you have! I do mix in some potting mixes that don't pass the test, and some steer manure for the roses, but that's not really doing the trick. Fruit harvests are still OK, though...
 
Schoenie said:
Good for you Mike!
Maybe the oak leaves are not all that bad after all (or... things get diluted enough by pine needles or wash out fast enough).
Where I live, it's mainly clay... When I was planting a tree last summer (when it hadn't rained in months), I had to use a pick axe (!) to create a planting hole... And with the ongoing drought here in CA, the soil level in my garden has decreased by at least 4 inches in the last 10 years. I wish I had that beautiful black soil that you have! I do mix in some potting mixes that don't pass the test, and some steer manure for the roses, but that's not really doing the trick. Fruit harvests are still OK, though...
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You may be on to something. My yard floods with a good rain. So maybe that rain water is washing out the tannins?
 
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