Forrest Compost

[clarkshomestead]

I was kicking around in the woods a couple of days ago a little disturbed by the fact that this is my first year gardening here and I dont have enough of my own compost to get the soil ready. Well the woods behind the house seem to have plenty of composted oak leaves mixed with other leaves and debris. Could I use this stuff to get the soil right? The soil I'm working with is mostly sand. ???

[Deberosa]

It would be great if it weren't an oak forest... :(

Oak, walnut, Eucalyptus, rhubarb have tannins and such that prohibit plant growth.

I have the same dilema with my fir forest - too much acid for soils that are already acidic but other kinds of leaves out of the forest would be great!

[clarkshomestead]

ok right on! I'll find a stand of hickory or pecan. I'm gonna try to dig some of the finished layer to use. Thank you for the info!

[CountryKitty]

Saw this tip for making leaf mould for the garden just recently on the TV. Just take bags of leaves in Fall, use a sharp stick or a screwdriver or pencil to make several small holes in each bag, and leave in an out of the way place for the winter. In spring, spread over the garden.

[DM]

I've used bags and bags of oak leaves in my gardens... Just lime your gardens as needed, and don't worry about using oak leaves... I've even thrown pine needles in, but not in huge quanties...

The reason i don't take leaves out of the forest is, that's what the teee's in the forest eat, and i happen to like tree's too...

DM

[bookwormom]

have to second DM. oak leaves is about the only kind of leaves I get around here. I have gotten pickup loads out of the roadside ditch on our gravel road. Pine needle mulch is supposed to make strawberries better, not that I have tried it, I would if I had enough pine needles.
like DM says, counter the acidity by sprinkling lime on top. I have used oak leaves on berries and tomatoes and both did well.