I always left the grass clippings in with the shredded leaves. It helped warm up and decompose the pile of leaves faster. There is not that much grass anyway.
My biggest word of caution in making leaf mold are JUMPING WORMS. I am in south central WI, and did not have jumping worms last year but I discovered them this year. I 1st found them when I began to harvest my onions, then later when I harvested my sweet potatoes, leeks and russet potatoes. I literally removed dozens of them in a 10' X 20' bed. The way I grow these crops is by continually top dressing the plants with shredded leaves, come to find out, the preferred food for jumping worms. My biggest disappointment came when I discovered them in my leaf mold bin. Did not have the concentration I found in my garden bed , but a few are too many. I use leaf mold as a seed starter and a major component in my potting mixes. I give away and sell a lot of plants every spring and I can not chance spreading these worms in my seedlings. The worms die off in the winter but the egg capsules survive. If you click on the orange B I have a video of how I constructed a jumping worm proof leaf mold bin and another video about jumping worms. I encourage any serious gardener to check local Universities or your DNR to see if jumping worms are in your area. I am about to find out how difficult it is to control this invasive worm, I think it is much better to prevent them if possible. One thing I do when I start a leaf mold bin is to go out into the woods and collect native old leaf litter and decomposed wood. I take small samples in different environments to get as much fungal diversity I can. I then inoculate the pile as I fill it. The other thing I do in my zone 5a garden is insulate my bin around the perimeter and top with bagged leaves, this keeps the center of the pile breaking down through out the winter. The last thing I had to do with this years bin is add some worms. Usually the finished leaf mold is full of red worms, which is a win win, seeing that I made the bin "worm proof" I added one of my bins of red wigglers to help with the breakdown. I hope my videos give you a bit more info. I will actually raise some jumping worms inside over the winter, to find more out about their habits. If I discover anything worth while I will pass it along.
For me, I push the mower around the yard and collect all the leaves that way... already thru the mower once to give them a rough chop, and start the breaking down process. Exactly what you do, too. Both for the lawn itself, and also, in the compost pile.
Although I mostly throw my leaves into my chicken run to make compost for the following garden season, when I start a new either flower or a vegetable bed, I do layer the bottom with sticks branches and leaves
I built a similar chicken fence for the leaves that fell in October and November. By thanksgiving or so the contained pile was 5 feet tall by 6 feet wide and 6 feet deep. After the summer it's down to about the top of my boot. It's broken down so much that it looks finer than coffee grounds. A tablespoon of this stuff has like 5 different identifiable earth crunchers in it Not to mention the ones I can see with the naked eye
Can you speed up the brake down of the decomposition by using a green house effect? I.e building a 3 x 3 plexi gladd or clear plastic bag enclosure for the leaves?
A lot of people don't realize that if you remove the leaves from the area, you're actually mining the ground and removing the mineral content. The plants pull minerals up from the ground, turn it into leaves, and then redeposit those minerals in the Autumn. By removing the leaves, throwing them away, you're actually mimicking what happens in a mine, only on a smaller scale. This is why folks find themselves having to amend their land after years and years of doing removing the fallen leaves and grass clippings. I would also recommend folks go out of their way to plant native Sedges (Carex spp) under their trees. The sedges are getting mighty scarce and need some help. More to the point of the video, though, is that their root system is vital to the health of the soil biome, helping to grow that fungi and move nutrients around. It's surprising to see just how much of the native ecosystem we've lost do to fragmenting and the introduction of non-native species that out compete or smother the native plants. Folks forget that the local ecosystem is just that, a system, with a whole slew of moving parts that are integral to the function. Because things look "normal" and green, everyone thinks the ecosystem is operating properly.
I pile up leaves and broken branches under my large trees. Been making leaf mold and letting broken branches decay right at their base to form a large mound of earth and soil around the base of trees that will become shade-loving flower beds. I use the copious extra leaves as mulch in the rest of my yard. I actually found I don't have quite enough leaves once shredded for all the beds I want to mulch down. Of course, that shredded leaf mulch just ends up as leaf mold eventually too.
Hmm, and I thought I was making compost all along with mostly leaves and a little bit of coffee grounds and kitchen scraps. Turns out it’s mostly leaf mold/mulch.
Question, I have access to a mountain of 5 year old leaf mold and my question is can I plant a garden bed made completely of finished leaf mold ? Or do I need soil as well ?
Absolutely....I've read or watched a number of sources indicating that the pesticides available for home gardeners usually break down in under a year and often a lot less. Since I don't use the leaf mulch/mold until the next year from any leaves that I collect, I'm not too worried about it. My own lawn is free and clear of any kind of herbicides so I use grass clippings all thru the summer in my garden beds.
Why Bernie Sanders?!?! 🤮 Ruined the video and turned it off. I’m sure it was great info that I’ve been researching. Just couldn’t get over the political statement!!
Bernie Sanders is another member of the international merchant banking cartel of isreal who have purchased every lever of power in the jewnited states. Those aren't white liberals ruining America. They're joos
First off, well done with the Bernie cameo.
Great video. Thanks for the description for the many ways to use leaf mold.
Hey Bernie....lol!!!
😜
@@geekygreenhouse mitten brother's 🤣🤣
🥶 🤣
@@FreeTea4Me wait, what did I miss??
I always left the grass clippings in with the shredded leaves. It helped warm up and decompose the pile of leaves faster. There is not that much grass anyway.
My biggest word of caution in making leaf mold are JUMPING WORMS. I am in south central WI, and did not have jumping worms last year but I discovered them this year.
I 1st found them when I began to harvest my onions, then later when I harvested my sweet potatoes, leeks and russet potatoes. I literally removed dozens of them in a 10' X 20' bed. The way I grow these crops is by continually top dressing the plants with shredded leaves, come to find out, the preferred food for jumping worms.
My biggest disappointment came when I discovered them in my leaf mold bin. Did not have the concentration I found in my garden bed , but a few are too many.
I use leaf mold as a seed starter and a major component in my potting mixes. I give away and sell a lot of plants every spring and I can not chance spreading these worms in my seedlings. The worms die off in the winter but the egg capsules survive.
If you click on the orange B I have a video of how I constructed a jumping worm proof leaf mold bin and another video about jumping worms.
I encourage any serious gardener to check local Universities or your DNR to see if jumping worms are in your area.
I am about to find out how difficult it is to control this invasive worm, I think it is much better to prevent them if possible.
One thing I do when I start a leaf mold bin is to go out into the woods and collect native old leaf litter and decomposed wood. I take small samples in different environments to get as much fungal diversity I can. I then inoculate the pile as I fill it. The other thing I do in my zone 5a garden is insulate my bin around the perimeter and top with bagged leaves, this keeps the center of the pile breaking down through out the winter.
The last thing I had to do with this years bin is add some worms. Usually the finished leaf mold is full of red worms, which is a win win, seeing that I made the bin "worm proof" I added one of my bins of red wigglers to help with the breakdown.
I hope my videos give you a bit more info. I will actually raise some jumping worms inside over the winter, to find more out about their habits. If I discover anything worth while I will pass it along.
i liked the little Bernie Sanders in the corner 😂😂😂
Yes I saw that I was like who is the guy with the mask on and then he disappears like what is that😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Great job with this video and with your leaf mold! And I loved the Bernie cameo!
Ha ha. ha, OMG! Bernie in his mittens stopping by for a quick visit killed me!
Several of my questions were answered in this video after watching 15 others about leaf mold. Thanks!
Great video.
Thank you.
For me, I push the mower around the yard and collect all the leaves that way... already thru the mower once to give them a rough chop, and start the breaking down process. Exactly what you do, too. Both for the lawn itself, and also, in the compost pile.
So much valuable information in your video. Thank you and I’m now subscribed!
Welcome!
Awesome knowledge thank you for sharing
Absolutely, glad you enjoyed
Although I mostly throw my leaves into my chicken run to make compost for the following garden season, when I start a new either flower or a vegetable bed, I do layer the bottom with sticks branches and leaves
Interesting use case, I'm sure that slow breakdown over the following years enriches the soil a ton
I built a similar chicken fence for the leaves that fell in October and November. By thanksgiving or so the contained pile was 5 feet tall by 6 feet wide and 6 feet deep. After the summer it's down to about the top of my boot. It's broken down so much that it looks finer than coffee grounds.
A tablespoon of this stuff has like 5 different identifiable earth crunchers in it
Not to mention the ones I can see with the naked eye
Did Bernie just pop up in your background?
Can you speed up the brake down of the decomposition by using a green house effect? I.e building a 3 x 3 plexi gladd or clear plastic bag enclosure for the leaves?
A lot of people don't realize that if you remove the leaves from the area, you're actually mining the ground and removing the mineral content. The plants pull minerals up from the ground, turn it into leaves, and then redeposit those minerals in the Autumn. By removing the leaves, throwing them away, you're actually mimicking what happens in a mine, only on a smaller scale. This is why folks find themselves having to amend their land after years and years of doing removing the fallen leaves and grass clippings.
I would also recommend folks go out of their way to plant native Sedges (Carex spp) under their trees. The sedges are getting mighty scarce and need some help. More to the point of the video, though, is that their root system is vital to the health of the soil biome, helping to grow that fungi and move nutrients around. It's surprising to see just how much of the native ecosystem we've lost do to fragmenting and the introduction of non-native species that out compete or smother the native plants. Folks forget that the local ecosystem is just that, a system, with a whole slew of moving parts that are integral to the function. Because things look "normal" and green, everyone thinks the ecosystem is operating properly.
I pile up leaves and broken branches under my large trees. Been making leaf mold and letting broken branches decay right at their base to form a large mound of earth and soil around the base of trees that will become shade-loving flower beds. I use the copious extra leaves as mulch in the rest of my yard. I actually found I don't have quite enough leaves once shredded for all the beds I want to mulch down. Of course, that shredded leaf mulch just ends up as leaf mold eventually too.
Hmm, and I thought I was making compost all along with mostly leaves and a little bit of coffee grounds and kitchen scraps.
Turns out it’s mostly leaf mold/mulch.
Did Bernie just pop up in your background
Question, I have access to a mountain of 5 year old leaf mold and my question is can I plant a garden bed made completely of finished leaf mold ? Or do I need soil as well ?
I'd also like to know.
Lol the bernie
Does it matter what leaves you use? Someone told me not to use oak leaves which is what I have access to.
💚👍
I have too many leaves. I sweep them up and bag them in black bags and use as needed.
Nice, that's a simple way to essentially do the same process
Benefits of free roadside leaves far outweigh the risks.
Absolutely....I've read or watched a number of sources indicating that the pesticides available for home gardeners usually break down in under a year and often a lot less. Since I don't use the leaf mulch/mold until the next year from any leaves that I collect, I'm not too worried about it. My own lawn is free and clear of any kind of herbicides so I use grass clippings all thru the summer in my garden beds.
Bernie almost gave me a heart attack
Hahaha!! Bernie!!!😂
What's up with Comrade Bernie creeping around?
There is a man pops up behind u on your video ?,wearing a blue mouth cover and has no legs
Weird dude in the background is creepy
Why Bernie Sanders?!?! 🤮 Ruined the video and turned it off. I’m sure it was great info that I’ve been researching. Just couldn’t get over the political statement!!
what in the world are you talking about? there wasn't a single political statement in this video
Honestly it was just a bit of humor from the Bernie memes that were going around. It wasn't intended as a political statement. It's just humor.
Bernie Sanders is another member of the international merchant banking cartel of isreal who have purchased every lever of power in the jewnited states. Those aren't white liberals ruining America. They're joos
Triggered easily? Lol
I thought it was a funny Easter egg.
As always a great informative video that I learned something new.
Did Bernie steal your boyfriend in high school or something?