tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35381357.post4113528570123673610..comments2024-03-19T09:00:55.627-04:00Comments on PrincetonPrimer: Use Those Leaves in the YardSteve Hiltnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13814809440369173963noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35381357.post-60802843816274197812013-10-18T09:24:53.059-04:002013-10-18T09:24:53.059-04:00Thanks for those replies!Thanks for those replies!SFBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17397283983315237915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35381357.post-77911269381013055712013-10-17T20:57:44.590-04:002013-10-17T20:57:44.590-04:00You need to add lawn clippings and coffee grounds ...You need to add lawn clippings and coffee grounds and other "green" matter to the leaves. If you do this over a winter (mixing from time to time), you'll get mulch the following spring. We do this by capturing our leaves in a cylinder of garden fence, throwing lawn clippings and coffee grounds into the leaves and occasionally stirring them in. Very good mulch at the bottom of the pile within months.Harbor Sparrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16214284306282493116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35381357.post-66299450017728412982013-10-16T10:45:18.725-04:002013-10-16T10:45:18.725-04:00Depends on the kind of tree, and also on whether t...Depends on the kind of tree, and also on whether the leaves are moist or got piled and compacted in a dry condition. Oak leaves tend to decompose slowly. Maple, ash, and elm leaves much more rapidly. All of this relates to fire ecology, which is too long a story to tell here. Grinding up leaves increases the surface area available for microbes to do their work on, so expedites decomposition. Most piles of leaves, even those not ground up, greatly reduce in size over the year. You may also have compost at the bottom of the pile while the top leaves appear little changed.Steve Hiltnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13814809440369173963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35381357.post-74466045278351284532013-10-15T11:36:41.022-04:002013-10-15T11:36:41.022-04:00How long do leaves typically take to mulch? Ours f...How long do leaves typically take to mulch? Ours from last year still look very much like dried out, somewhat squished leaves, not compost.SFBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17397283983315237915noreply@blogger.com