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Location

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Greencastle, PA

I'm wondering how many leaves to put in my soil, I have lots of leaves. You don't have to say like 2,876.925 leaves, just a rough estimate. What are the perfect soil levels and what's the best way to get them as close as possible. No advanced math please, I'm only 12. lol. Thanks,
Tom

9/23/2001 2:37:46 PM

canal winchester ohio

What the heck, let me be the first to bite.
As far as soil levels if you can afford it " if you are willing to buy seeds I bet you can" get a soil test this fall. A good place to go is the Indiana growers site. ( www.ipga.ws) click on Kinsey's ag services . With the help of John Maston they are going to be doing my soil test this fall. I've heard it is very detailed. All you have to do is read it & apply what they say.
Get that out of the way first then move on to the next step.
Bear with me group I'm going to take baby steps back into certain areas..............Paul

9/23/2001 2:48:50 PM

Long Island,New York

Tom...Like Paul says, start with a soil test. Costs 15 bucks at your local AG co-op...this will tell you what fertilizers to use next year and what your PH is..and how much lime to add.
Without spending any money, grab a leafblower/sucker (thats, grab a leafblower/sucker, not grab a leafblower, sucker!)(hee-hee...tension breaker !LOL) and suck up as many maple and oak,apple etc leaves as you can and add them to your patch.You wont be able to add too much.6 inches everywhere to 1 foot is ok to start.Till these chopped up leaves into the soil this fall.Leaves will add organics to the soil and increase tilth,air,and water holding capacity to the soil.It will help in the overall workability of the soil. If you have manures...add 6 inches of that too...mix well and let set....sprinkle winter rye seeds or some other cover crop and let it grow til spring when you till it under and adjust for ph etc in March.........G

9/25/2001 5:37:45 PM

Greencastle, PA

Thanks guys. I have 2 big maple trees in my yard. Kind of a stupid question, but what is lime? I know, "rookie question," but after all, I was this year and in the sport of "serious" pumpkin growing I will be next year too. I might start a raking business and use those leaves and spend the money on fertillizers, my lizard, Rex, and my girlfreind. lol. Thanks again,
Tom

9/25/2001 6:01:38 PM

Greencastle, PA

will cherriy leaves work? I have 2 ornamental cherries like the ones in D.C. I also have neighbors with severall maples so I get tons of leaves

9/25/2001 6:02:44 PM

Greencastle, PA

oops, I hit the butten accidentally. I was also going to say that I have so many leaves they mulch my whole yard between 3" and 1". Thanks for the help.
Tom

9/25/2001 6:04:47 PM

walton n.y.

tom most any leaves will work there are different acid levels in the types of leaves you use the big thing is before you add them to your patch shread them up so they break down quicker lime is used to adjust your soils ph it comes in powdered or pelleted form also 1 type dolmite is a faster acting but doesn't stay in the soil as long have your soil tested the results will tell you how much and what to add

9/27/2001 8:10:01 PM

Greencastle, PA

Ok, Thanks guys, I think that with my improved patch size, reduced number of plants, good seeds, and healthier soil could make me a contender for the MD record. Thanks again,
Tom

9/28/2001 10:56:36 PM