I'm finding oak are slow, but on the whole I'm getting useable leaf mould (soil-like black stuff) after just 1 year, about 2 bulk bags worth. I come across a few wads of oak leaves that haven't properly broken down and I just throw them back onto this year's heap. I don't do anything to the pile other than hose it down (before that was banned) during very dry spells.
My leaves are a mix - a lot of poplar, chestnut, oak and cherry/plum, also some apple and mulberry.
Mostly I use it as a mulch for shady/woodland beds but I add some of it into my potting mixes.
I don't do leaf mould it all just goes in the compost mix. I mow them all up from my grass, the road verge, the neighbours and off the road. On the grass I set the mower low to take plenty of grass too to make a good mix, this heats up well, I know everyone say it's a different action for leaves decaying but if they go in hot bins they do break down faster. They breakdown well when turned and kept moist.
Personally I use lots of evergreen leaves in my compost, always mown up they are much more of a green material that heats up fast unlike autumn leaves. Laurel is just about my favourite addition after grass for getting the heaps going
I too find they break down well in my compost bins with other materials @Wildebeast, and grass clippings. It's really only when it's just leaves that it's the slower process of decomposition. I like making leaf mould for my woodland plants, and because my compost bins don't get hot enough to kill weed seeds. I use the compost where it's easier to weed! I think that given the scope and methods you use, you do right adding them in with everything, as you do. I've enjoyed following your progress on here.
Thanks @Woodgreen I hope people enjoy my little travails with composting. I always find it interesting how other systems produce such different results to mine, I don't think I'd ever have got into composting if I'd done it on a small scale and found it hard to get it to work.
I'm currently working on a large garden building project and have got my customer trained into collecting all his garden waste and even mowing it for me. He normally has to do 3 runs to tip each weekend so I'm saving him loads of time and its great for me, mind he didn't believe me at all when I asked and is quite certain I'm mad as a hatter
Laurel is just about my favourite addition after grass for getting the heaps going
I'm so glad you said that @Wilderbeast. I've got three builders sacks full of shredded Laurel waiting for my new compost bays to be delivered. My old system is in the shade but this new one will be in the sun a lot of the time
Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
I'm taking it all in Wilderbeast thank you. Do the soft stems of the laurel rot down too? I have a car load of laurel after I've pruned.
@Uff this is what I posted on the Shredder thread. If you have one, this is the sort of result you end up with. You'll see the soft woody bits from the stems which should compost down nicely.
This is the result from the Bosch AXT 2200. Still one or two big pieces of leaf but most of it is nicely reduced ready for the heap.
Having separated out any stems wider than 3cm, this is the result from the Bosch AXT 25 ready for the green bin.
Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
I'm trying some Winter veg out in the PT, I may have got these in a bit late, but nevermind, time will tell.
It's homemade compost, only two so far haven't germinated, but there is still time for those. At the start of the season I (and many others) were suffering from poor germination from bought composts and that was at a more favourable time of the year. Out of shot are all the other Winter veggies I started in August, again in homemade compost and about a 98% success rate.
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My leaves are a mix - a lot of poplar, chestnut, oak and cherry/plum, also some apple and mulberry.
Mostly I use it as a mulch for shady/woodland beds but I add some of it into my potting mixes.
Personally I use lots of evergreen leaves in my compost, always mown up they are much more of a green material that heats up fast unlike autumn leaves. Laurel is just about my favourite addition after grass for getting the heaps going
It's really only when it's just leaves that it's the slower process of decomposition.
I like making leaf mould for my woodland plants, and because my compost bins don't get hot enough to kill weed seeds.
I use the compost where it's easier to weed!
I think that given the scope and methods you use, you do right adding them in with everything, as you do. I've enjoyed following your progress on here.
I'm currently working on a large garden building project and have got my customer trained into collecting all his garden waste and even mowing it for me. He normally has to do 3 runs to tip each weekend so I'm saving him loads of time and its great for me, mind he didn't believe me at all when I asked and is quite certain I'm mad as a hatter
I'm so glad you said that @Wilderbeast. I've got three builders sacks full of shredded Laurel waiting for my new compost bays to be delivered. My old system is in the shade but this new one will be in the sun a lot of the time
I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
@Uff this is what I posted on the Shredder thread. If you have one, this is the sort of result you end up with. You'll see the soft woody bits from the stems which should compost down nicely.
This is the result from the Bosch AXT 2200. Still one or two big pieces of leaf but most of it is nicely reduced ready for the heap.
Having separated out any stems wider than 3cm, this is the result from the Bosch AXT 25 ready for the green bin.
I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
It's homemade compost, only two so far haven't germinated, but there is still time for those.
At the start of the season I (and many others) were suffering from poor germination from bought composts and that was at a more favourable time of the year.
Out of shot are all the other Winter veggies I started in August, again in homemade compost and about a 98% success rate.