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Fertilizing and Watering
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Subject: Aged oak leaves? 10 yrs ...
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From
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Location
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Message
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Date Posted
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meathead320 |
Bemidji Minnesota
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Hi all, over at my Dad's place, only about 1 mile from where I live, my father has a lot of oak trees.
He does not have a dog, however when he bought his house, 10 years ago, there was a decent sized Kennel, and he had not other use for it, other than a place to store his oak leaves, and toss all his other organic plant waste into.
So he has been doing this for 10 years now, and about 80% of what it has gotten is oak leaves, and about 15% grass clippings, and 5% random veggie and fruit left overs.
I know that It is best to let Oak leaves age for a season before adding them, but I checked under the top layer, last time I was over at his place, and I think he must have about 2 tons worth of 10 year old, aged oak leaves in there.
Today he said I could have as much as I want of it.
Anyhow, working with a 500 square foot area, how much of it should I work in? Would it be usable this year, as a last minute additive ( not putting anything in the patch, plant wise until the 15th of May), or should I wait and just put it in this fall for next years?
Or is 10 year aged oak leaf compost non-pumpkin friendly?
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4/25/2008 6:07:41 PM
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garysand |
San Jose garysand@pacbell.net
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if it has degraded to usable compost I would still test it before adding a bunch. if you have your soil were you want it it isnt worth the gamble to me. The leaves will be there this fall to add and till in. I think Oak is very acidic, just be careful
good luck
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4/25/2008 8:02:53 PM
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meathead320 |
Bemidji Minnesota
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Alright, tested it shall be.
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4/25/2008 8:21:47 PM
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Tremor |
Ctpumpkin@optonline.net
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I'll wager it'll be good. Oak leaves contain a lot of lignin so they take longer to break down. But once decayed, Oak leaf compost is fine.
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4/25/2008 9:27:50 PM
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Alexsdad |
Garden State Pumpkins
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Ten year old oak leaves will be fine....Don't over do it add enough to bring your OM up a bit. It's like adding black powder if it's done completely. I don't mean the explosive I mean the texture. GrowEmBig! Chuck
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4/27/2008 11:38:05 AM
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Fissssh |
Simi valley, ca
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Iv asked a compost manufacture what he thought of oak leaves & he said they were one of the best composts , But very expensive! I go to many oak trees & fill trash cans & put it in patch & veg garden ,It seems very good , plus I have aprox 20 trees in yard !I started a sm pile over last winter & worms exploded in that pile !!
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4/28/2008 5:03:36 PM
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Rob T |
Somers, CT
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Go for it.
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4/28/2008 7:57:52 PM
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Boy genius |
southwest MO
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Scpape the top off the pile and leave it for the bottom of the new pile. Put 1/2 of the black finished stuff on now and the other 1/2 in the fall. You will have some availible to make teas and such also. Rock on meathead...
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4/29/2008 10:10:18 AM
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Total Posts: 8 |
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