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Leaves on borders Vs leaf mould

Matty_PMatty_P Posts: 64
in Problem solving
Hi all,

We have lots of oak tree leaves in our borders. I partly put them there as they fell to cover the soil, I thought they might suppress weed growth and would eventually breakdown to a mulch. However, I've now made a leaf mould cage to store excess leaves and I'm wondering if I'd be better off removing the leaves from the borders and adding them to the cage too, this will expose the soil though. Longer term I wonder if having more mulch produced from the cage would be better than the leaves breaking down in the borders. Perhaps one Vs the other makes no difference to the process of creating a mulch..

Thanks for the tips
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Posts

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    As you have lots of oak trees I would do both. Try your hand at making leaf mould in cages, for adding to compost mixes. Piling leaves on borders can act like a protective layer, gives a home to critters and creates leaf mould without you having to do anything.
  • Matty_PMatty_P Posts: 64
    Thank you, that was my initial thinking. I have not made leaf mould before so can see how it goes over the next year or so. I neglected to shred the leaves before adding them to the cage but i don't think this is an issue.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Just make sure you don't get large piles of leaves covering the crowns of plants, which might cause them to rot.
    I try to remove leaves from  the lawns, but allow them to stay on the borders, and let the worms do the work.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I use my  favourite tool  - a  Lidl really cheap hand rake with gentle, springy tines. I rake away what I can reach from the paths or  edges and leave the rest. There's little evidence of leaves by the spring
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Mrs-B3-Southampton,-HantsMrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants Posts: 732
    I know someone whose garden is bordered with oaks. He says it takes forever for leaves to rot. Does anyone know if they contain something that hinders the decay process?
    Southampton 
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Perhaps the worms have the secret.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Tannins in the leaves slow down composition.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Matty_PMatty_P Posts: 64
    punkdoc said:
    Just make sure you don't get large piles of leaves covering the crowns of plants, which might cause them to rot.
    I try to remove leaves from  the lawns, but allow them to stay on the borders, and let the worms do the work.
    Good point thanks
  • Matty_PMatty_P Posts: 64
    Mrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants said:
    I know someone whose garden is bordered with oaks. He says it takes forever for leaves to rot. Does anyone know if they contain something that hinders the decay process?
    Yes it's say that's true, they do seem to hang about, but I think oak leaves  are supposed to make good mulch for whatever reason depends what you compare it to. So says RHS anyway.
  • Matty_PMatty_P Posts: 64
    edited November 2023
    I'll let you know if my leaf cage is still just that in a years time : /
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