[Gerry JohnParticipant]

Thanks Rhys, I’ll do that

[Gerry JohnParticipant]

Allan, I’m pleased you sorted the leaf problem. Did you dispose of the leaves or compost them?

The cost of going to Dovetails wouldn’t be worth the trip because only yesterday I collected a truckfull of free, rotted horse manure from nearby. I’ll put it into my compost bins to further compost until Spring.

[Gerry JohnParticipant]

Thanks Paul. I have made leaf mould at home a few years ago, it took 2 years to break down.

I may spread wild flower seed on the leaves and leave it to nature. The only issue would be flowers germinating when I don’t want them to in the future. If I remove seedlings like weed seedlings I should be ok.

I just don’t want the two beds lying dormant for a couple of years.

[Gerry JohnParticipant]

Allan, where did you get the compost, we have to pay for recycled green waste in Stockport and Manchester

[Gerry JohnParticipant]

Thanks Allan, I didn’t know that about horse chestnut. Am fairly certain most are sycamore and beech but there may be horse chestnut. Was the bed okay this year?

[Gerry JohnParticipant]

Thanks Hawfinch and Cleansweep

[Gerry JohnParticipant]

As I typed, an idea came to me. Wild flowers do not require nutrient rich soil, could I sow wild flower seed on/in the leaves to create two beds to encourage and feed pollinators?

[Gerry JohnParticipant]

Hi Charles, I’m from Stockport nr Manchester where we get lots of rain. Sadly we have slugs all over the place. Having watched your videos and read your books, I’m aware of the issue with slugs and wood lice with the leaves, wood chippings, under black polythene and wooden sides of beds.

As this is my first year of going to no dig I have used wooden sides for my beds with compost in but I will remove them at the end of the year.

I cant afford to create beds with 6-8 inches of compost over the whole plot in this first year.

I will therefore be forced to acquire cheap beer, and what I don’t drink will be used in slug traps. Methinks a lot of beer will be needed………. for the traps as well!

[Gerry JohnParticipant]

Thanks Hawfinch. I’ll check it out on YouTube.

[Gerry JohnParticipant]

Thanks Charles. I have been collecting leaves manically since they started falling. I’ve created two pallet compost bins full of leaves for leaf mould.

I have also begun option 1 using black polythene on beds that have bind weed, horse tail, buttercup and nettles. I have used 3” of leaves under the polythene as a mulch.

I have created 9 beds using home made compost, leaf mould, manure and mushroom compost. I only have limited home made compost left and the manure that is left is composted but not well composted.

For that reason I decided to make the leaf beds. Originally I thought I’d leave them for a year to make mould and then I wondered if I could grow in them anyway. I will try your suggestions. Thanks again.

[Gerry JohnParticipant]

I also am starting no dig on my allotment that is a full plot. Using option 1 for part of the plot, I have used collected leaves as a 3″ mulch because of their availability and cost of £0.

Using option 2 for my beds is where I have spent money on mushroom compost as well as using free well composted horse manure and home made compost.

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