Where I am located there are deep layers of decomposing oak leaves and some patches of pine. When I dig into it the bottom layers are black compost that smells rich. Below is clay soil that is gray. Does anyone have experience with using these kinda of compost? Are these quality materials to add to my mix? They seem to be very much alive with fungi, etc.
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oak leaf compost
- Thread starter sticky367
- Start date
The black compost layer is an excellent soil amendment. The decomposing leaves are nice as a mulch. I could find a use for those materials in my garden I think.
Photosynthesis
Member
That black compost is gold. The leaf litter will make an excellent mulch. The price appears to be good as well.
leaf mould is great ! and oak leaves are suppose to be one of the best things to use if you have to make your own. not many oaks in my neck of the woods unfortunately
use it!
use it!
I've mixed up similar materials straight into my mix it works well, especially the punk wood, it can hold incredible amounts of water and eventually breaks down into a peat like substance.
Its also a good addition to the worm bin, my "bedding" is a mix of leaf mold, recycled soil, topsoil, and some old coco.
A bit of that clay is useful too.
Do it, it'll only get better! 
Most of the trees where I am are oak, so it's always been a big part of my compost pile.
Most of the trees where I am are oak, so it's always been a big part of my compost pile.
You're lucky to have that source. Use the hell out of it. Just dig out the best layer/s and leave the rest for next year. Leave some of the good layer. You can use it in mixes, top dressing, add to compost pile, ACT, and best of all use it for worm bedding. That'll be some of the best vermicompost. Good luck. -granger
Do it, it'll only get better!
Most of the trees where I am are oak, so it's always been a big part of my compost pile.
I take all of my neighbors oak leaves, he says they take 2 years to break down LOL! He's old school though. Chemicals and fertilizers galore. I mix his leaves with my maple leaves ,grass clippings and any other yard waste I have and turn that shit into black gold in one season.
The key is to turn it weekly and keep the ratio of green to brown within range. All of my byproducts from brewing (yeast cakes and spent grains) seem to really fire the piles up. The microbes seem to like the sweet wort a lot.
I really like to throw layers of sand into the piles also. Gives the worms some grit when the compost makes it's way down the pile to them
Lean Green. Thats awesome I have been dreaming about a fatty worm compost windrow or pile. I spoke to a guy who makes retail soil. some interesting stuff, its dehydrated soil and compacted so you can move a large amount around and save money on trucking. Anyway the guy mentioned that feeding cardboard to your compost pile is very important because the organisms that break that stuff down play a key role in pest prevention. I used to see people feed sawdust to compost piles too. I wonder if thats a similar practice.
blooper
Active member
is there any point where you can mix in too much leaf compost or can you just plant right into this stuff? i'm looking to amend commercial potting soil (peat, coir, perlite, some compost) and a friend can help me out with well aged leaf compost. i've heard for worm castings you want 15% or so of your soil mix so i was wondering if there is a rule of thumb for compost in general. good quality castings are getting expensive so i'll probably mainly use them in teas. leaf compost seems to be the best option so i'll be using fabric pots and adding clay pebbles, chunky coco, perlite, pumice, and some lava rock as well as alfalfa meal, bone meal, kelp meal, glacial rock dust, dolomite, rock phosphate, and diatomaceous earth. basically everything i have on hand at the moment so i'm thinking a heavier but well draining mix should do well.
at 25$ a yard i'd really like to use as much leaf compost as possible. higher quality commercial potting soil is going to run at least $100 a yard once its hauled and i need 8 yards total, including aeration and amendments.
at 25$ a yard i'd really like to use as much leaf compost as possible. higher quality commercial potting soil is going to run at least $100 a yard once its hauled and i need 8 yards total, including aeration and amendments.
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most leaf mold kicks ass..i just harvested 2 chicken wire rings full...due to limited space I make wire rings and fill with leaves and such..yeehaw
I've heard up to 1/3 also. basically as a peat replacement.
I'd love to try it but I haven't had the chance yet. it would really boost the eco friendliness of any mix!
I wonder about proper liming or if it's even necessary....
I'd love to try it but I haven't had the chance yet. it would really boost the eco friendliness of any mix!
I wonder about proper liming or if it's even necessary....
blooper
Active member
curious myself. per 100gal pot we're using 5gals as 'parts' and did 6 parts amended potting soil, 2 parts leaf compost and 1 part perlite. half batches to not break our backs lol. seems like enough perlite but i'm gonna mix another few gallons into each planter for peace of mind. overwatering is no fun
edit: forgot to ask. there's a lot of not totally composted leaf mulch i was wondering if i could use a a 4-5" layer on top of each pot? i hear mulching is good but not sure what to use.
edit: forgot to ask. there's a lot of not totally composted leaf mulch i was wondering if i could use a a 4-5" layer on top of each pot? i hear mulching is good but not sure what to use.
