Soil amendments
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Soil amendments DirtBag 03-07-2010
Posted by DirtBag on March 7, 2010, 10:30 am
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I started my first compost pile last fall, mostly leaves mulched with my
mower. I turned it several times, but given the limited time, it's not
yet compost - mostly just leaves.

Anyway, I'm planning to use raised beds this season, and I was hoping to
use this "compost" in the raised beds. I was planning to rototill this
compost into the first several inches of soil, then install the raised
beds, add some more of this compost, and finish off with some local
topsoil from the local nursury.

Am I missing something? Will this leaf-compost be problematic? Should I
swap the topsoil planned for the raised beds for something else.

Any guidance for a newby would be greatly appreciated.

DB

Posted by David E. Ross on March 7, 2010, 11:07 am
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On 3/7/10 7:30 AM, DirtBag wrote:
> I started my first compost pile last fall, mostly leaves mulched with my
> mower. I turned it several times, but given the limited time, it's not
> yet compost - mostly just leaves.
>
> Anyway, I'm planning to use raised beds this season, and I was hoping to
> use this "compost" in the raised beds. I was planning to rototill this
> compost into the first several inches of soil, then install the raised
> beds, add some more of this compost, and finish off with some local
> topsoil from the local nursury.
>
> Am I missing something? Will this leaf-compost be problematic? Should I
> swap the topsoil planned for the raised beds for something else.
>
> Any guidance for a newby would be greatly appreciated.
>
> DB

Toss some good garden soil on top of the pile and rinse it into the
pile. This will provide some of the soil micro organisms that promote
composting. Also add some high nitrogen fertilizer since composting
leaves requires nitrogen. Make sure the pile remains moist.

DO NOT add to your raised bed. The composting leaves will deplete
nutrients from the soil until they are fully composted.

Like yours, my compost pile is also almost entirely leaves, especially
oak and ash. When I have my back lawn mowed (ornamental red fescue,
mowed only once a year) I add some of the clippings to the pile. It
took about 18 months to start from scratch. It works well now, taking
about 4-5 months to produce a great leaf mold from autumn leaves. When
I sift the pile, I always leave some fine compost to ensure that the new
leaves in the pile are "inoculated" with the necessary organisms.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at <http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary>

Posted by DirtBag on March 7, 2010, 1:28 pm
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David E. Ross said

> Toss some good garden soil on top of the pile and rinse it into the
> pile. This will provide some of the soil micro organisms that
> promote composting. Also add some high nitrogen fertilizer since
> composting leaves requires nitrogen. Make sure the pile remains
> moist.

I added blood meal last fall. I had quite a hot pile till this miserable
winter took over. Spring is almost here!

> DO NOT add to your raised bed. The composting leaves will deplete
> nutrients from the soil until they are fully composted.
>
> Like yours, my compost pile is also almost entirely leaves,
> especially oak and ash. When I have my back lawn mowed (ornamental
> red fescue, mowed only once a year) I add some of the clippings to
> the pile. It took about 18 months to start from scratch. It works
> well now, taking about 4-5 months to produce a great leaf mold from
> autumn leaves. When I sift the pile, I always leave some fine
> compost to ensure that the new leaves in the pile are "inoculated"
> with the necessary organisms.

My present compost pile is on top of my garden, I planned to turn it in
to the soil. I think I'll set up a dedicated compost pile and continue
this process. So, I am I to understand your mature pile processes all
you leaves in 4-5 months? This would be ideal.

Posted by David E. Ross on March 7, 2010, 3:47 pm
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On 3/7/10 10:28 AM, DirtBag wrote:
> David E. Ross said
>
>> Toss some good garden soil on top of the pile and rinse it into the
>> pile. This will provide some of the soil micro organisms that
>> promote composting. Also add some high nitrogen fertilizer since
>> composting leaves requires nitrogen. Make sure the pile remains
>> moist.
>
> I added blood meal last fall. I had quite a hot pile till this miserable
> winter took over. Spring is almost here!
>
>> DO NOT add to your raised bed. The composting leaves will deplete
>> nutrients from the soil until they are fully composted.
>>
>> Like yours, my compost pile is also almost entirely leaves,
>> especially oak and ash. When I have my back lawn mowed (ornamental
>> red fescue, mowed only once a year) I add some of the clippings to
>> the pile. It took about 18 months to start from scratch. It works
>> well now, taking about 4-5 months to produce a great leaf mold from
>> autumn leaves. When I sift the pile, I always leave some fine
>> compost to ensure that the new leaves in the pile are "inoculated"
>> with the necessary organisms.
>
> My present compost pile is on top of my garden, I planned to turn it in
> to the soil. I think I'll set up a dedicated compost pile and continue
> this process. So, I am I to understand your mature pile processes all
> you leaves in 4-5 months? This would be ideal.

The major additions to my pile is in the autumn. I turn the pile as I
add more leaves. I generally count on the winter rains to keep it moist.

I wait until late spring to sift it. By then, excess moisture is gone,
making it easier to sift. I get a generous amount of compost (mostly
leaf mold). When I see that I have enough for my needs, I just stir the
pile. If I remember, I stir and water it during the summer.

My major use is in making my own potting mix. I also stir some into the
soil when planting in the ground. No, I don't use it to top any beds.
Instead, I use fallen leaves as a mulch in my beds. They soon become
compost, too.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at <http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary>

Posted by David Hare-Scott on March 7, 2010, 5:01 pm
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DirtBag wrote:

> So, I am I to understand your mature pile
> processes all you leaves in 4-5 months? This would be ideal.

The time varies considerably from 6 weeks to a year or more dependent on the
air temperature, moisture, size and content of the pile and how well it is
aerated. Look up "hot composting" and "cold composting" for details.

David


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