Cardboard or Leaves

[Don Foley]

Hi Charles,

I was wondering in the initial ground preparation where you suggest using a layer of cardboard covered by a layer of compost if I could substitute leaves (not yet composted and very wet) instead of the cardboard. I’m wondering really if the leaves would have disintegrated before they have completely killed off the weeds etc.
My problem is I don’t have enough compost to do a 6″ layer on its own nor can I scrounge up enough cardboard but I can get a substantial quantity of wet un-composted leaves and have enough compost to cover them by about 3″.

Don.

[charles]

Don, are you sure you need cardboard at all? only if the weeds are many & vigorous.
Leaves at the bottom will use some of the compost’s nitrogen to decompose, quite slowly, perhaps give a little warmth too. I think they would be fine to include.

[Don Foley]

Thanks Charles. The area is particularly infested with dandelion much of which I managed to dig out but I know I have left some root. I don’t think a 3″ layer of compost (all I can manage to apply at this stage) will be enough to smother any regrowth of these which is why I wanted to use cardboard/leaves. Normally I would apply a 6″ layer of compost without the cardboard.

BTW I meant to say previously I’m finding the new book, the Vegetable Garden Diary, excellent. I think its your best work to date.

Don.

[charles]

Interesting Don, it it was me I would have left the dandelions and mulched on top. I did that here.
Yes some leaves will ensure less or no regrowth of the small pieces left.
Thanks for your comment on my Diary, glad it’s useful for you.

[Don Foley]

I would have just done with the compost mulch but more than a few of the roots I managed to extract would have easily passed for Parsnips, they were that thick!

Don.

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