Comments on: Leaf litter

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 04:25:50 +0000

Interesting post. What would cause leaves to lessen the amount of weeds in spring? Leaves compost well and makes for good mulch, but is there something in them that prevents weeds from growing? Jeff TheGardenCloche.com | Quality Garden Cloches Jeff, a layer of leaves, like any mulch, just helps keep - or at least slows down - the really opportunistic sunshine-loving weeds seeds from germinating and forming their own instant groundcover in the spring. -kris Breaking news! Turns out that compounds in maple and oak leaves may actually suppress dandelions. The article about the study is here -kris.

By: Layanee

Layanee — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 14:14:17 +0000

That is my intent and all because of you, Gail and the rest at Blithewold. Usually I just compost the leaves first. Now, on the beds!

Layanee, I hope you’ll report back about trying this come spring! -kris

By: kathy tracey

kathy tracey — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 12:09:08 +0000

A number of years back we planted witchhazel, Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Luna’, which produces yellow flowers in late winter, and colorful fall foliage. For the past few years we’ve been distressed by the fact that it has chosen to bloom in the fall, and that the blossoms were almost unnoticeable because they were obscured by the yellow fall foliage. It was one of those “Uh duh” moments when we figured out that ‘Luna’ had been grafted onto H. virginiana, Native Witchazel, and the growth below the graft had overwhelmed little ‘Luna’. This fall, the leaves graciously fell off early and all at once to display a fall blooming witchhazel completely covered with spidery primrose yellow blossoms. And now that I’ve written this I should go out and take a picture.

Kathy, I’ve that noticed one of ours – a ‘Diane’ maybe has sent up tell-tell fall blossoms from the root stock too. Uh-oh. Would it save Diane to cut that growth back like you would a rose that does the same thing? -kris

By: Jean

Jean — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 22:47:20 +0000

My tiny garden is newly planted this year, but I put in some of my favs from my previous garden in NY. I put in two witchazels and have been saving a space for a fothergilla” Mount Airy”, that I finally found and,even though it is pretty small and young it has gorgeous fall color anyway, deep green-blue swirled with burgundy. Will mow/ mulch whatever few leaves I have, and let them stay on the grass.

Jean, I can’t get over how pretty the fothergilla is… I’m glad you found the one you were after! (I have a very tiny one in my garden too…) Have you been as tempted as I have been to grab the neighbors’ bagged leaves? -kris

By: Susan Sims

Susan Sims — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:20:57 +0000

I’ve been on an anti-raking campaign this fall. I’m letting the leaves that fell in the beds stay there. I mow without a bag on the mower and let the chopped bits of leaves and grass blow everywhere. I have been considering raking up the bounteous leaves on my neighbors’ properties and borrowing the super shredder to get the fine, leafy bits and spreading those around too for good measure. It’s beginning to sound like more work than just raking now that I read this. Hmmm…

Susan, I understand the dilemma… The shredded leaves are lovely… and there’s a certain Zen to working at the machine… And yet… -kris