A garden is only as good as the ground that it's planted in. Discussion forum for the many ways to improve the soil where we plant our gardens.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: albuquerque
Posts: 308
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We have had a couple of light frosts, but this morning it was 23. I have been waiting for leaf fall because I use bagged leaves as insulation on the sides of my leek beds and over the carrots. When all is frost protected I get more to shred and mix with coffee grounds for use as mulch in the spring. Never enough.
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#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 6,794
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4season, are you overwintering the leeks and carrots in the ground?
I was reading about your climate the other day, it sounds like a great place to garden. We just had two nasty days with a couple of cm of snow on the ground, but expecting rain and 13 C tomorrow... and our leaves haven't fallen either. ![]() ![]() |
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#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: albuquerque
Posts: 308
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Overwintering carrots in the ground, after a month or two the tops get kind of bad but the carrots themselves are OK. Its hard to say in the ground for leeks as most of the edible portion is above ground. I run a row of leaf bags down both sides of a leek bed and cover with a tarp. I may put loose leaves or straw under the tarp. Leek beds are 6 drip tapes 6 inches apart (15 cm) planted both sides.
Last edited by 4season; November 6, 2015 at 01:26 PM. Reason: add info |
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#4 |
BANNED FOR LIFE
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 13,333
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Reading this reminded me of a few years ago when I told my brother I needed the leaves he rakes up around his house. Before I started gardening, he used to burn the leaves in a huge pile/mound around 30' wide and 5' tall. He assured me that I wouldn't be able to use all his leaves in the garden. I used all of his leaves, the ones around our yard, and had to go find more. Since then, he just asks, "Where do you want them".
Something that comes in handy for moving a lot of leaves is those city garbage totes. I'm pretty sure they are called "Toters". They move a lot of leaves at a time. |
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#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MA/NH Border
Posts: 4,919
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Or you can use an old landscaper technique - rake them onto a tarp, gather up the four corners, and drag them to wherever you want them.
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#6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: S.E. Wisconsin Zone 5b
Posts: 1,831
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I started my leaf pile a couple of weeks ago. Right now it is about the size of two full size passenger vans. I will be adding more to it this week. There are a lot of oak leaves in it, so hopefully it will help to acidify it a little bit.
LeafPile2015.jpg Dutch
__________________
"Discretion is the better part of valor" Charles Churchill The intuitive mind is a gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. But we have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. (paraphrased) Albert Einstein I come from a long line of sod busters, spanning back several centuries. |
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#7 |
BANNED FOR LIFE
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 13,333
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Over the past couple of days, the oak leaves have really started falling fast. There's a cold front coming in the morning with 30+ mph winds. I will be collecting leaves soon so we can get to our car.
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#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: albuquerque
Posts: 308
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We were out of town for a couple days, got back yesterday. Today there are bags of leaves on the curb and I see people raking. OK, only 1 kid but tomorrow is Saturday and I expect to collect 60 or 70 bags in my little pickup truck.
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