Question on a leaf mould enclosure
Hi
I'm building a leaf enclosure, we live next to a wood so you can imagine the leaves we get .... anyway, decided to have a go at making my own leaf mould as I have the raw materials and tons of space (I could even go into production eventually lol).
One question I have though is this, we get a LOT of rain, I know that the leaves have to be left open to the elements but what happens if the leaves get absolutely soaked?
I've looked at the set ups online (using posts/wire/sheeting for weeds underneath) and none of them have covering - so, is it definitely okay to leave the top exposed?
My enclosure will be about 6ft wide - have even got a 'golden gark' rake to help with the gathering (and a husband, although he doesn't know it yet).
thanks to anyone who responds.
Renata
x
p.s hope I've put this in the right category
Posts
soaking is good, its fungus that breaks down the leaves so the actually need little air (unlike compost) and lots of moisture obviously sitting in a pond will be no good, but I seem to spend all my time during the summer wetting my leaf mould so it rots quicker!
If you're a bit worried, a little 'fluff up' of the older stuff when you introduce new will do no harm. The difference between naturally laid down leaf mold is the sheer volume you'll be creating. Whereas in the woods, the layers are thin, by comparison yours will be much thicker and heavier, so I would say just ensure there is some air flow occasionally. It's the best stuff for top dressing all your ericaceous types and practically all plants will love a mulch of leafmold monthly.
H-C
Thanks for that helpful information Treehugger89 and H-C, If you are interested I will post a picture in here when it's built, planning on doing it this week, need to get some weed membrane down - it's going on a cobbled bit (not grass).
If you lived near me I could let you try out my first batch ... you will probably have to wait a year or two though lol.
Renata
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I had a leaf enclosure at a client's home once, about 12 feet long by 4 feet deep by 4 feet high. Under the canopy of beech trees but never covered. Made fabulous stuff.
I cleared lower branches in our young ( 15 years old ) woodland yesterday so I can get the ride one through there to hoover it all up. I'm collecting builders' dumpy sacks in readiness so I can dot them around as required. Is it a bit sad to say I'm actually rather excited about it.?
I never covered mine Renata, and we get loads of rain up here. I had a couple of mature trees in that garden and they made terrific leaf mould. I just left it to get on with it. I found it broke down fairly quickly, but I also turned it occasionally which helped keep it form becoming a solid mass in the early stages.
I also used black bags with holes which worked really well too.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I have covered mine with old carpet, natural fibres only, and have had no problems. I sieve mine through an old supermarket wire basket when used as a mulch, but sieve again when I want it for potting plants.
yesterday sieved approx 800 litres and the top dressed magnolias and rhododendron, a very satisfying day.
The rake I use, which I'm very happy with, is a wooden-handled plastic one with fairly broad tines. Far better then the metal spring types which are very poor at gathering leaves. I rake into small piles then use 2 small wooden boards (tip from Monty Don) to scoop them up and into a builder's bag. When the bag's about 1/2 full (i.e. not too heavy to lift) I lift it onto the wheelbarrow then fill it up more (also fill the barrow with leaves first). Much more efficient than taking small wheelbarrow loads one at a time if you have a lot of leaves.
I suspect the leafmould might do better if it's on soil rather than on a hard surface or membrane.
I have a set of 3 mesh bins about 5' square and generally fill about 2 each autumn. Any deciduous tree/shrub leaves go in. Before adding the new leaves I turn all the 1 year old leafmould into the 3rd bin and leave it another year, and move the 2 year old finished leafmould into another pile ready to use. You only really need the mesh bins to hold the fresh leaves as they compact down so much as they decay.
I have to confess. I've never made , proper, leafmould . I mow it up with a bit of grass included and it rots down well enough over the winter to make mulch for the following spring. Maybe I'm just too impatient to wait for "proper" leaf mould to break down.
LOL Hostafan1 ,,,, I'm excited too .... so we both must be a bit sad .... a big thank you to you all for responding with your invaluable advice .... Fairygirl, AWB and Onorpordum (what does that mean)?
We scraped the whole area today in readiness, it poured it down - we got soaked then hubby got stung TWICE by two separate wasps !!! Poor guy, his finger swelled up really badly and he couldn't bend it. I wish we had a gale force wind so it would make ALL the leaves drop at once and then we could collect and get it over and done with in one fell swoop ....
I was wondering about builders bags too, if i go loads of them and stacked them all in that area ... will take a photo of the enclosure when its built and see what you think ...
Fairygirl, in reference to where you live, you said 'up here' .... I'm in West Yorkshire and we get tons of rain, you anywhere nearby?
Many many thanks .... really starting to love this place ......
Ren
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