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pecker88 · November 15, 2016

I've noticed around town there are bags of mostly maple and oak leaves curbside, ready to be picked up.

Here's my plan:
1. shred bags of leaves with mower
2. add the shredded leaves to greenhouse raised beds
3. till the leaves into the soil
4. cover the raised beds with black plastic

Would that help to improve my heavy clay soils?

This is all inside a hoop house that will be covered with 2 layers of poly over the winter. I'm thinking the black plastic will help to heat up the ground, thereby speeding up the compost process. On a sunny day, even with outdoor temps of 20-30 deg. F, inside the greenhouse can be 90.

Thoughts?

November 15, 2016	#1
pecker88 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 192	add leaves to soil in fall? I've noticed around town there are bags of mostly maple and oak leaves curbside, ready to be picked up. Here's my plan: 1. shred bags of leaves with mower 2. add the shredded leaves to greenhouse raised beds 3. till the leaves into the soil 4. cover the raised beds with black plastic Would that help to improve my heavy clay soils? This is all inside a hoop house that will be covered with 2 layers of poly over the winter. I'm thinking the black plastic will help to heat up the ground, thereby speeding up the compost process. On a sunny day, even with outdoor temps of 20-30 deg. F, inside the greenhouse can be 90. Thoughts?