Mulching with Leaves?

[rg]

A question for the experts....

I happen to have a nearly unlimited source of free oak and hickory leaves. I have heard not to mulch fig trees with whole leaves as this might attract rodents. Is it okay to mulch with shredded leaves?

Thanks.

[Hershell]

I use rolls of hay. Yea the whole roll, it will eventually deteriate and it gives rodents plenty of places to hide but decon is cheap. I also use mulch from the tree trimmers, just got about 30 loads and when our tember was cut 3 years ago the top piles are just rotted enough to start using them in the new fig house. I've allways mulched heavy and never had a problem. I do keep rat bait out In my shop and out buildings. I prefer to keep mice under control than to have an infestation.

[rg]

That's a really good idea. We just had some timber cut and I have some piles like that. I hadn't really thought of using that material as mulch.

[PawPaw Gene]

Most any mulch is good especially if you live in a dry climate or a cold one. It saves on watering and keeps the roots cool in summer and warm in winter.
"gene"

[cyberfarmer]

I don't know what kind of oaks you have, but the leaves from my coast live oaks are toxic to most other plants. I have a massive amount of sycamore leaves that I use for mulch. They disintegrate very quickly, so I usually keep wood chips directly around each tree.

[rg]

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind!

[Darkman]

Funny my live oaks leaves do not hurt anything and the earthworms absolutely love them. I mulch heavily 6 - 8 inches deep that quickly decomposes down to about 4 inches that I try to maintain. What do I mulch? Just about everything with the figs and blueberries getting the most. My garden area where my blackberries, citrus and muscadines grow is a 90' x 110' area that is 100% mulched except for a 6" diameter ring around the citrus which are susceptible to root rot. My tropical ornamental bed is thick with leaves as is all of my Bananas. I only have one problem with leaves. I can't get enough. I go through at least a thousand bags a year probably closer to three thousand. I did some digging this year while doing irrigation lines and found that where previously I had no top soil I now have 6 - 8 inches.

There is a tree that has a "No Competition" clause in it's DNA. It Is the Black Walnut. There are probably others.

http://www.forestry.uga.edu/outreach/pubs/pdf/forestry/Walnut%20Allelopathy%2011-10.pdf

It has a compound Hydrojuglone that in it's tissues including roots and the fallen leaves. When it oxidizes it converts to Juglone which is the toxin. It is not a common tree around here and I haven't had any problem using all the leaves I can collect EXCEPT Southern Magnolia leaves. They just don't rot very quickly and I only use them in my PawPaw tree bed.

[Bevman]

I use shredded leaves and coffee grounds. Also use wood chips from power line crews. Check this out http://www.backtoedenfilm.com/ Here also another place with lots of planting info from our friends down under, http://www.milkwood.net/
Your right, Black Walnut wood, nuts, leaves, highly toxic. Put Black Walnut nuts into a pond and the fish go belly up.

[Hershell]

I had help putting out mulch. I got this pretty little girl to do the hard work.

[Bevman]

Your right, pretty helper, but lets be safe, where is her seat belt? I never operate my tractor without it or my roll bar, even on flat ground. Besides, the roll bar supports the canopy in the hot sunny days.

[Hershell]

I said I used mulch but I use what comes along. Here is what I have collected in the last few mouths. Hay on the right and ground up limbs on the left. Please don't think that I am a hoarder, I'm really a nice person with a problem. I guess