Leaves

Not sure if this is the right sub-forum, so please forgive me if it should be posted elsewhere.

My neighbor has been raking up his leaves and piling them up in the back corner of his yard against the fence for about 12 years. The "pile" is about 18-24" high and has something growing in it. I know this because the roots poke out of the fence and stick out in my yard.

My question is:
Is there any viable use for the leaves or what's left of them down about 12" or so?
I am guessing they have composted, but they would only be browns.
I am pretty sure my neighbor would let me have some of it if I asked.

Thanks

Oh, I say YES! Those babies are prime compostville! Ask away, he has forgotten about it.

03.27.2016

Leaf mold is a gardeners friend!

Yeppers. The bestest ever...est.

For sure ask and try to get some that stuff is great for the garden.

WOW! thanks everyone for the replies.
1. Is leaf mold just composted leaves and only leaves
2. Where should I add it...to the bed or the compost pile?

Both.  I think leaf mold can be counted as 1 of 5 sources for compost.  Someone correct me if I'm wrong.  And of course, leaves are great in compost piles.
PS: older, deeper in the pile should be worms, so you would be getting some worm castings.

Sounds good. Time to visit the neighbor

Saw this on Instructables:


it's a leaf baler. This may be nicer than having piles of leaves in my yard. plus it should work for pine straw too.

Interesting!

Go for it, Ralitaco!! All your neighbor can say is no, right?

My neighbor dumps stuff in my compost pile. Such a nice guy!

Here's the link to that instructable

http://www.instructables.com/id/Baling-Fall-Leaves/

ralitaco wrote:

Ooo...that yard makes me want to get out my mower.  Can't use a baler coz
I. Must. Mow. Leaves.

CC

AtlantaMarie wrote:Go for it, Ralitaco!!  All your neighbor can say is no, right?

My neighbor dumps stuff in my compost pile.  Such a nice guy!

Thanks for that, Marie.  Saves me repeating "Go for it, ralitaco!"

CC, I don't know how well it works, but I thought it was interesting. I presume it could be used for pinestraw, etc. Also, I know most folks like to mow their leaves, but I was thinking that the bales could be used to make some walls for compost areas or that they could be used for insulation during the winter around a cold frame or under a TT.

Kelejan & AtlantaMarie, I have enough leaves of my own to add to the compost pile. What my neighbor appears to have is about 6" of already composted leaves under his pile. I quickly snapped a picture of the layers I can see through the fence - didn't want to stand there snapping photos of his backyard, that would have been a bit awkward.



It's about a 4' tall fence and the leaves are about 12-18" high. You can see the new leaves clearly on top and then can see them look more like dirt towards the bottom.
That's the stuff that I thought would be good to get.

You could do a low crawl over to that spot and spoon out the good material.

sanderson wrote:You could do a low crawl over to that spot and spoon out the good material.

Yeah, you would look completely reasonable doing that too, and take some pictures while you are at it!

Scorpio, of course, WE know it is a reasonable thing to do.

you guys are troublemakers...must be why we get along

I could just cut the pickets below the 2x4 across the length of the fence and use it like a giant compost bin

Maybe you could put a hinged "door" below that 2x4.

Le us know how it works...last year I learned if I let leaf and compost piles sit for too long roots from surrounding trees and shrubs will grow up into the material...making it a total pain in the but to move/use.

I'd say ask for permission, but I'm a rules-follower, lol! But, yeah, that looks like good stuff to me!!

landarch wrote:Le us know how it works...last year I learned if I let leaf and compost piles sit for too long roots from surrounding trees and shrubs will grow up into the material...making it a total pain in the but to move/use.

+1.  I made a 4 ft x 4 ft compost bin out of T posts and chicken wire and set it at the edge of the woods so it would stay moist.  In Oct 2014 I shredded all the leaves, added a lot of coffee grounds, watered it thoroughly, and just left it.   Let it sit for a year and started trying to use it in Oct 2015.  It had dried out and was invaded by masses of roots from the nearby woods.

I'm sure he would let me get the compost if I asked.
Maybe after I get the garden planted, I will see if I can "help" him clean up that corner

Maybe he will when you point out that the lower part of the pickets are starting to rot. At least, that is what it looks like from here.