can u use leaves as compost?

samij

Im sure this is somewhere within the vast archives of advice, etc. but after a breif look I have come to the conclusion that to find it could take a good three days of non stop surfing. Hence I ask you. Is it good practice to dispose of the leaves of a chinese elm by simply laying them at the roots to decompose. I was under the impression that naturally it would be good for the tree. but going by the look of my soil, and the state of the tree, (no that bad, but loosong its leaves too early, and looking generally a bit unhappy).

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TreeBay

Hi Samij,

Depending on your location, your Chinese elm may behave differently than others' deciduous trees.

In some warmer climates, for example, the Chinese Elm can hold its leaves all year and only lose them in response to the flush of new growth in the spring.

Will allowing the leaves to remain on the soil surface do any harm to an elm? *Probably not, but it isn't very likely to improve the health of your tree, either:

BENEFITS:

A mulch on the surface of your soil can help protect the roots against cold, noxious weed seed germination and moisture loss.

NEGATIVES:

Decaying material on the surface of your bonsai is likely to harbor insect eggs and earwigs, and sowbugs that favor that kind of environment. *Further, as the leaves decompose, the bacterial action consumes nitrogen, which may deplete the soil somewhat. *This in itself is not a big problem during the winter. *If the mulch becomes compacted, however, it can also interfere with the diffusion of air through the soil into the roots and promote fungal growth.

I would suggest that you keep the soil as free of leaf litter, weeds and spent organic fertilizer as you can throughout the winter.

Regards,

Matt

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Bonsainut

I agree with TB completly. Couldn't have said it better! Put the leaves in a real compost pile that will heat up and kill the baddies and you can sift it and use it in next years soil or in the garden!

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Keep growing,---'Nut



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