From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Connecticut

I read in another post to add Maple leaves to your soil in the fall to help prepare for the spring. I am expanding my patch and was going to add as many leaves and rotted horse manure from down the road as I could. The trees in my yard are River Birch,Oak,Hickory and Maple in that order.
Are there any leaves of the ones listed above that could be harmful to the patch if tilled in this fall ?

I know get a test and I will.

9/27/2011 3:41:08 PM

Springfield, VT

Nut trees are usually bad to add in large quantites. The oak typically are very waxy and take longer to break down. I'm not sure on the hickory but it may contain bad natural plant growth inhibitors, others nut trees such as walnut do.

9/27/2011 4:56:39 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Walnuts and butternuts contain juglone which is harmful to a lot of other plants.

9/27/2011 5:13:32 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Leaves from nut trees should be composted at least a year. After that the juglone levels will be very low and safe to use

9/27/2011 11:39:27 PM

Western PA

I would only use the maple myself. And be sure to mulch them up first.If not, they may not be broken down enough by planting time and they could possibly lock up your nitrogen.

I rake mine on a tarp and drag them to the edge of my patch and then dump them around the perimeter then mulch and blow them into the patch with my riding mower.Till them in if weather permitting.

9/30/2011 12:08:49 PM

Connecticut

I plan on mowing them up avoiding the Hickory, spreading over patch and tilling in with grass clippings and manure. Should do the trick. They will be chopped by mowing and Nitro added by grass and manure.

9/30/2011 7:52:23 PM