leaf gathering time

4season · November 21, 2017

The last two mornings were 16 and 18 degrees and all the fruitless mulberry trees are dropping their leaves at once. 45 degrees this morning. I have two people who do yardwork and will deliver, but the wife wants fewer leaves, says not enough nitrogen. Eventually I have to go to the stables for a load of used horse food to mix with the leaves to keep her happy. In any case Rutgers University has a fact sheet titled "Plant Nutrients in Municipal Leaves" fs824. Just avoid walnut leaves.

swellcat · November 21, 2017

Quote:

. . . used horse food . . .

Nice.

Plant Nutrients in Municipal Leaves

Labradors2 · November 21, 2017

Oh no! I recently scrounged some bags of leaves. People leave them out for pickup in huge paper bags so I helped myself. I looked in one and saw WALNUTS, but figured that I could pick those out when I came to use the leaves. I never even thought about the leaves containing juglone.

Thanks for the wake up call!

Linda

Edited to add that I just looked it up, and juglone IS broken down by composting, so it's a relief that I can still use my big bags containing walnut leaves

imp · November 21, 2017

The entire walnut family of trees, including pecans, all produce jugalone, really kills the nightshade family.

4season · November 29, 2017

Yesterday (28th) I called the number for the feed store and stables I used to go to and got the changed or out of service message. Drove out anyway today. It is and has been a church for 2 or 3 years. There are a couple of stables closer anyway.

JRinPA · December 8, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by imp

The entire walnut family of trees, including pecans, all produce jugalone, really kills the nightshade family.

I did not know that. I put about 2 quarts of walnut husks (made dye with them) through the shredder about an hour ago as I finished some leaves. I will keep this in mind for next time.

Worth1 · December 13, 2017

The poison in walnut breaks down fast in compost.
Worth

Rajun Gardener · December 13, 2017

In pecans too, I had to research because I have 13 pecan trees and a few oaks so it's mostly pecan trees leaves that make it to the garden.

Lasairfion · January 7, 2018

Sometimes I wonder if there's an irony occurring with our ancestors, who having named 'leaves' so that we would leave them where they are, are now wondering why we spend so much time raking them up and burning this great nutritious mulch.

swellcat · January 8, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lasairfion

Sometimes I wonder if there's an irony occurring with our ancestors, who having named 'leaves' so that we would leave them where they are, are now wondering why we spend so much time raking them up and burning this great nutritious mulch.

We'd benefit greatly from more the good, critical thought you're applying here.

Rajun Gardener · January 8, 2018

Why do people think they need to rake them up instead of just mowing them back into the soil?

I recently saw a guy raking his yard(about 2 acres) and bagging leaves and pine needles then setting them at the roadside for the garbage truck to pick up. I stopped and asked him if I could take them and he said yes so now he stacks them next to an old driveway in his yard and I stop by once a week to pick up the bags.

I have plenty of leaves from the property already but since these are bagged I'll save them in an old barn for later use. I'm at 12 bags in two weeks and there's more to come.

I was even nice enough to offer him tomatoes and cucumbers this growing season and he was elated.

Father'sDaughter · January 8, 2018

Some of us have so many leaves that fall in such a short span of time that mowing them all back in isn't an option. We could collect the leaves twice a week and still have a thick blanket over the yard on any given day.

November 21, 2017	#1
4season Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: albuquerque Posts: 308	leaf gathering time The last two mornings were 16 and 18 degrees and all the fruitless mulberry trees are dropping their leaves at once. 45 degrees this morning. I have two people who do yardwork and will deliver, but the wife wants fewer leaves, says not enough nitrogen. Eventually I have to go to the stables for a load of used horse food to mix with the leaves to keep her happy. In any case Rutgers University has a fact sheet titled "Plant Nutrients in Municipal Leaves" fs824. Just avoid walnut leaves.

November 21, 2017	#3
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,895	Oh no! I recently scrounged some bags of leaves. People leave them out for pickup in huge paper bags so I helped myself. I looked in one and saw WALNUTS, but figured that I could pick those out when I came to use the leaves. I never even thought about the leaves containing juglone. Thanks for the wake up call! Linda Edited to add that I just looked it up, and juglone IS broken down by composting, so it's a relief that I can still use my big bags containing walnut leaves Last edited by Labradors2; November 21, 2017 at 09:55 AM.

January 7, 2018	#9
Lasairfion Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: UK Posts: 82	Left-field Sometimes I wonder if there's an irony occurring with our ancestors, who having named 'leaves' so that we would leave them where they are, are now wondering why we spend so much time raking them up and burning this great nutritious mulch.

November 21, 2017	#4
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	The entire walnut family of trees, including pecans, all produce jugalone, really kills the nightshade family.

November 29, 2017	#5
4season Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: albuquerque Posts: 308	Yesterday (28th) I called the number for the feed store and stables I used to go to and got the changed or out of service message. Drove out anyway today. It is and has been a church for 2 or 3 years. There are a couple of stables closer anyway.

December 13, 2017	#7
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	The poison in walnut breaks down fast in compost. Worth

December 13, 2017	#8
Rajun Gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Tomato Cornhole Posts: 2,550	In pecans too, I had to research because I have 13 pecan trees and a few oaks so it's mostly pecan trees leaves that make it to the garden.

January 8, 2018	#11
Rajun Gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Tomato Cornhole Posts: 2,550	Why do people think they need to rake them up instead of just mowing them back into the soil? I recently saw a guy raking his yard(about 2 acres) and bagging leaves and pine needles then setting them at the roadside for the garbage truck to pick up. I stopped and asked him if I could take them and he said yes so now he stacks them next to an old driveway in his yard and I stop by once a week to pick up the bags. I have plenty of leaves from the property already but since these are bagged I'll save them in an old barn for later use. I'm at 12 bags in two weeks and there's more to come. I was even nice enough to offer him tomatoes and cucumbers this growing season and he was elated.

January 8, 2018	#12
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	Some of us have so many leaves that fall in such a short span of time that mowing them all back in isn't an option. We could collect the leaves twice a week and still have a thick blanket over the yard on any given day.