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Composting
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Posted by Pusser N.Z. (My Page) on Fri, Mar 28, 03 at 1:58
| Can anyone tell me how to compost leaves from a magnolia tree. They seem to contain lots of resin which will not break down. So far I've tried several commercial potions to no avail. Latest trick is running a motor mower over them to reduce their size but still they refuse to break down. Any ideas? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Composting
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| Not sure, it could just be a time thing. Or you could try a wood chipper??? or layer alternately with stuff like seaweed & manure & leave a whole heap longer ??? pee on them heaps :O ???? Or just give up & use them as a weedmat under paths & stuff or the lowest layer of a no dig bed. |
RE: Composting
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| Ta for that Liz_W especially the bit about pee on them, who else but a Mainlander would have thought of that? I guess I'll just have to keep digging trenches and hope for the best. Unfortunately the leaves appear to have a killing effect on worms so has to be a real deep trench. Happy gardening |
RE: Composting
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| I have a friend who has a friend ( or some other tenuous link ) who reputedly makes a weed spray that works on kikui(sp?) grass by macerating manuka in water until it rots down. It's the oils in it apparantly that do the trick. Maybe your magnolia would have some magical organic weedkilling or bug killing properties if you tried this ? I s'pose another option is to do away with the magnolia altogether & replace it with something beautiful & native. & teehee I'm still looking for a JAFA bumper sticker for my BMW ;) |
RE: Composting
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Are these leaves from the deciduous magnolia or the evergreen one?? Either go through the mulcher here and this really speeds the rot--if no mulcher run over them with the mower!! Just layer your results with woopsies,seaweed, vacuum bag goodies over newspapers. Educate the worms and smother the weeds as well as make compost where you need it, no sweat!!
PS Liz let us know about the JAFA sticker!!!:)
Sandra |
RE: Composting
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- Posted by erphy waikato NZ.z9 (My Page) on
Fri, Apr 18, 03 at 5:41
| howdy..run over them a couple of times with the lawn mower..and use as mulch around the tree itselff or other plants...or if dead leaves use as a carbon material in the compost...or if you wish to compost on their own...use 1/2 cup molasas disolved in sheep poop tea about three littres and pour over a barrow load mix and then leave in pile covered.turn as necessary...or use this mix in your compost as well |
RE: Composting
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| What does the molasses do ? I have a friend who uss it in chook food but I've not heard of it used in composting before. |
RE: Composting
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| Molasses dissolved in water is a good cmposting friend, add to all composting....like sugar its a quicker breakdownfor all composting. |
RE: Composting
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| comfrey is excellent as a compost activator. I grow it especially to add to the compost, or to make a tea as a good plant tonic. I have heard of molasses used in the garden for all sorts of purposes, but worry about attracting ants ( which we have inside the house now, the first time in 25 years ) |
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