[KC IN TC]

I am going to start container gardening this spring (the "dirt" around my place is mostly sand) and have started a compost pile to use in them. My question is that for about 12 yrs my father has been mulching leaves and throwing them into the same place. It is not in a garden friendly area but the dirt under the top layer of mulch has turned into what looks like black gold as far as dirt goes. It is very rich and has very fine "roots" through out. Is this what I have heard of called leaf mold? If so can I use it straight in the pots or should I add something to it (non chem)? Also about how long before the compost I started in august is ready?

[nathangdad]

50% of the sand/soil in your area. You do not want to overwhelm your plants and the sand will allow for needed drainage. If you are throwing leftover food into your mulch such as meat and salad ingredients and are tossing it to aerate it about once a week you should be good to go for spring. Just don't make it a 100% mulch environment for your plants.

[KC IN TC]

Thankx for the input. Now just need to pick out seeds!

[testhop]

my way of making leaf mold is in the fall after the leaves fall( i like maple )
put the leaves in a black plastic trash bag and 2 galion of water seal
it up[ and turn it ever once a while come spring leaf mold redy to use
you may needmore water acording to the amount of leaves and bag size

[KC IN TC]

REALLY??? The way i've heard it described it takes forever for the leaves to break down but your method makes alot of sense!!!! Do you plant right into this or mix it?

[22-rimfire]

You probably want to add some lime to the new "black soil" as it should be highly acidic. Blend some sand into that new mix as well to improve drainage.

The little roots are not mold.

[KC IN TC]

22 rim,
I also have "standard" compost pille going. Can I use this to drop acidity?

[madcratebuilder]

True leaf mold is used mostly for certain container plants that thrive on the beneficial bacteria and microorganisms in it. Tuberous Begonias and Fuchsias particularly like oak leaf mold mixed with equal parts of sandy loam and well aged cow manure.

[22-rimfire]

Use the lime that is designed for the lawn turf. Most garden plants like it a little acidic. I use one of the small tillers to blend together my soil mix. Speaking of blending, I need to plant a hemlock that I bought last year and give it a good well drained home. In this case, I will blend the soil in my wheel barrow. No lime however since its a conifer.

Your standard compost pile will also be pretty acidic. You are doing well!

Every two years, I add about 4" of mushroom compost to my small garden and till it up and blend it with the natural soil. My mistake in the past has been probably to keep it a bit too acidic and not add lime. The natural soil is kind of a silty loam but it is not very fertile. So my garden gets the royal treatment.

[KC IN TC]

Hey thanks for the input folks. Can I pick up lime at some place like Home Depot or do I go some where special?

[mrghostwalker]

I found a way that is fool proof. My 5 garden beds are about 4' by 20'. I boxed them in with untreated wood planks. Don't even bother digging up the sod. Every year I put the leaves from my yard (and my neighbors) into the beds. fill them up- then ignore them. The leaves break down and in the spring just push aside the leaves and plant your veggies. Use the leaves as multch. In the fall do it all again.
Every year I've got soil that looks like worm bedding (and huge worms for fishing!)

[KC IN TC]

THANKS A TON^^,
I was wondering if my compost will be ready for this season (i started it late last summer) and from what you're saying it should be a go. I'll rake off the top couple inches and get the good stuff then put the top stuff for mulch. Now all I need to do is wait for the snow to get the HE** out of here!

[cheapblaster]

Quote:       Originally Posted by mrghostwalker

I found a way that is fool proof. My 5 garden beds are about 4' by 20'. I boxed them in with untreated wood planks. Don't even bother digging up the sod. Every year I put the leaves from my yard (and my neighbors) into the beds. fill them up- then ignore them. The leaves break down and in the spring just push aside the leaves and plant your veggies. Use the leaves as multch. In the fall do it all again. Every year I've got soil that looks like worm bedding (and huge worms for fishing!)

+1! I rake up enough leaves to make a layer of them. The mulch keeps the weeds down and the earthworms love them. End up with aerated soil full of worm casings - good stuff for the plants.