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#157236 Dec 1st, 2007 at 07:13 PM
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My yard is full of them. I was going to use some of them to cover my garden areas but someone told me that if I do that when I rake them back in the spring that every kind of weed in the world will be growing under those leaves. I thought if I put them in a spot it would smother out the weeds. I know from experience that they will kill grass if piled up in a place too long.



Bestofour #157239 Dec 1st, 2007 at 07:21 PM
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they will kill weeds too. as long as they aren't weed leaves.

#157241 Dec 1st, 2007 at 07:29 PM
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They are oak tree leaves.



Bestofour #157244 Dec 1st, 2007 at 07:35 PM
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they'll kill weeds. the thing is, if you are putting them on the beds to mulch the beds, and keep the plants warm, it keeps the weeds warm too. but that's a necessary evil. and, any weeds that make it, will be easy to pull right way. they won't make weeds worse.

if there aren't plants there, or self seeded annuals, then don't use the leaves because they will stop the weeds from freezing and dying. does that make any sense at all? if not, i'll try again later! lol

#157272 Dec 1st, 2007 at 08:42 PM
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The areas are where I usually plant my vegetable gardens. Sometimes flowers do volunteer there.

I'm not sure about that last part of your answer.

I was going to put then on thick. What got me started was that we had a grassy area that is now bare because leaves laid there too long. They killed the grass and it didn't return.



Bestofour #157282 Dec 1st, 2007 at 08:55 PM
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since you are putting it on thick, and there aren't weeds there now, i think it will be a good thing to do. i'm not very good explaining things tonight. i really shouldn't even be on here, but you know how that goes.

#157290 Dec 1st, 2007 at 09:13 PM
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Sheri I always use leaves for mulch,, What's good is that at the bottom of the leaves come spring is Black gold waiting to be scratched into the soil!! clap Jiffy is right at that point weeds are easily pulled if some self seeded before you placed the leaves there,, Cuz the leaves won't kill the ones( weeds) waiting to come up,,,,

When I rake to gather leaves I keep an eye out for weeds as I rake into the pile, BUT I don't take a lot of time picking them out either, It's just as easy come spring!


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angelblossom #157294 Dec 1st, 2007 at 09:23 PM
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Okey dokey. I'll cover up the area tomorrow. Now what to do with the ton of them that's left.



Bestofour #157309 Dec 1st, 2007 at 09:53 PM
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I used leaves a few years ago, but in the fall it's so windy that most of them blew away and I had leaves all over my yard again.

Is there a secret in getting them to stay put?

#157315 Dec 1st, 2007 at 10:12 PM
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You can always get them wet,, Put a thick dry layer down and then a thick layer on top and get it wet,, to make it heavy to hold the bottom layer,, Unless you have a roll of chicken wire or something like that to stake them down with, I'm guessing at that one Loz!~ ,, sorta kinda,, why lol lol


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Bestofour #157316 Dec 1st, 2007 at 10:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Bestofour
Okey dokey. I'll cover up the area tomorrow. Now what to do with the ton of them that's left.

Bag them UP and use for compost ~~~~~~~~ What I do is mow the extra using a catcher bag and use for compost,, it helps decompose them faster,, OR bag them up and add as winter progresses,, OR you can just mow them and leave them as mulch for your grass,, I've done that also.. I always do that for the front yard,, just mulch mow back into the grass,, The back yard gets all three( More Trees back there,,) Mow mulched back to grass,, Catcherbag on Mower for Compost, and piled leaves for bedding areas,,


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angelblossom #157359 Dec 2nd, 2007 at 09:05 AM
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One thing you need to consider is that Oak leaves can be acidic and over time will make the soil more acidic. They would be good for areas with acid loving plants like azaleas, evergreens, camelias, heathers, etc.


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alankhart #157375 Dec 2nd, 2007 at 10:26 AM
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Alan, my soil is sooooo acidic already. We have probably more than 100 gigantic oaks that have been here forever. When we first moved in (and the yard had not been kept up) I found trees that were actually bent and completely covered with leaves. Some were dogwoods. There are so many leaves that if we don't keep ahead of it they will cover the azaleas and other small plants in a weeks time. Johnny cleaned up before Thanksgiving, then yesterday, and we have a yard man here today doing it again. It's a never ending process.

Diane, I do compost some of the leaves but there are too many to try and save and not enough green if I add all the brown.

I guess these leaves are why my camelias and azaleas do so well. I can't, however, grow impatients or pansys other than in pots. My vegetables have done well so far.



Bestofour #157402 Dec 2nd, 2007 at 11:18 AM
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In terms of using them, the best I can come up with is to just let the leaves lie. You must be talking on the scale of acres when you say over a hundred of gigantic oaks, and ought to be able to make a small chicken wire enclosure somewhere in the back in which to dump your mower bags and let the stuff compost there, for use on your flower beds. Of course this may mean a bit of a compromise on tidiness in making use of all those leaves, though.
Should be worth it, I think.

Does that help ?

neko nomad #157595 Dec 2nd, 2007 at 04:57 PM
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and hiding under the leaves

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Bestofour #157603 Dec 2nd, 2007 at 05:19 PM
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sheri, is that a gerbera daisy? that is awesome!

#157619 Dec 2nd, 2007 at 05:35 PM
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yes



Bestofour #157711 Dec 2nd, 2007 at 07:38 PM
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Wow a Gerber Daisy-----this time of year???--but then you do live much further south than I do-----Still very nice !!!


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JunieGirl #157948 Dec 3rd, 2007 at 10:44 AM
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What a treat to see, a beautiful view you have there Sheri.


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