How to make EZ Leaf Compost and Leaf Mold to SUPERCHARGE your Garden
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 มิ.ย. 2024
- Don't be fooled into thinking leaves are a waste, they can be a huge assest to your garden and used many different ways. You can make leaf compost, leaf mold, or even use it as a mulch for your garden. Today I will show you how to make both leaf mold and leaf compost.
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Funny!!! I make these towers for leaves in my garden, but instead of just letting them sit and decompose, I plant sweet potato slips in them and get potatoes out of them while they break down. Give it a try, you will be surprised.
Smart!! I like that idea Dave, thanks for sharing that
You can also plant regular potatoes in leaf piles.
so do i in zone 5. get alot of sweet potatoes,
@@jamesprigioni We just bought a new house on 5 acres. There is a garden there already. I want to winterize and put compost down with a thick layer of leaf mulch.. What do you think? Should I also cover it with a black plastic? I heard that will kill any fungus?(I'm south eastern Tennessee)
@@TheRhinoswife I'm a compost hobbyist (not expert), but I wouldn't bother with the plastic. It might break down and add toxins to your soil, or create anaerobic conditions that could slow down the composting process. If you really want to cover your compost to retain moisture, you might want to go with a non-toxic landscape fabric. As for fungus, I think you want and need that to help the leaves break down into leaf mould. Your success will depend a lot on your climate and weather patterns: if conditions are too hot and dry, the whole process will take longer. If you did try this method, and the leaves haven't broken down by the spring. You could try turning them into the soil a month before planting, or trenching them. Good luck/success!
Personal question dude, have u ever been an auctioneer or a bingo caller? Bc you talk really fast and 99% clear. Impressive, it really is.
I understand him of course I was born in nyc😀✌️
@@KK-nv7es I was born and raised in Hungary, my English is quite good but far from a native English speaker's. And yet, he's English sounds very nice and perfectly understandable. He's gotta speak fast. So much info slower would take hours for others. 😊
BTW, you've got a point with your question. LOL.
Jersey
I agree with you. English is my second language, i understand his talking more, so that's why I stick with his channel. Usually I don't open video wirh the length more than eight minutes.
It’s a New Jersey thing
About 30+ years ago I had 2 hella compost bins and a 3rd empty one. I put mostly leaves & grass and pretty fresh cow & Chicken manure in them. I remember it was in August . The morning temps were about 70-80 degrees . I remember looking at them in the morning and seeing huge plumes of steam just pouring out of the compost piles. I was afraid they'd catch fire. My Gramps & I figured that they had to be 180 degrees. I would flip them both over everyday or two . The bins were made of wooden shipping pallets. Eventually the compost settled down to a real nice black crumbly compost that I spread all around the garden where needed. I would also get full pick-up truck loads of beach kelp /seaweed since we live in Connecticut on the coast, and make compost with that or just layer it into the garden proper along with thick wads of black leaf mold. Eventually the house & property was sold but the memories of such great garden soil I'll never forget.
See
Wonderful !
*James -- l've been gardening for many decades now -* _but still NEVER FAIL learning easy-to-use tips when l watch your videos!_ You are amazing! You are truly a Master Gardener! *Keep up the good work!* 🌱🥝🌿🥕🌾🥦🍂🫒🍁🍃
*PS*- _l grew up in NJ!_
I have found that non shredded leaves will smother overwintering plants whereas shredded leaves give a lighter breathable cover that is easier to pull back in spring with uniform spring mulch cover. Even in compost piles, shredded leaves give more uniform breakdown and easier turning. I have found after decades of experimentation in the end shredding leaves initially saves time and effort.
Well using non shredded leaves has always been my experience to be a great black leaf mold mulch. It keeps weeds down, but also maintains moisture in the soil.
Shredded leaves are what to make your compost with. It's been hard for me to find well molded matts of black leaf mold but i always tried to just lay down well matted clumps of leaves on top.
@@jussitikkuri6991 I can see how well unshredded leaves can keep down weeds in summer though I find that they will blow over if not matted young plants spring stunting their growth.
I really want to thank you, James Prigioni, you have inspired me so much and changed my way of gardening forever. In fact, I am on the board of the Gil Carter initiative a none-profit and we are building our own food forest that will be a city block long in east Topeka KS. Thanks so much, you are changing the world.
👍🌟👍🌟❤
You’re gonna have to register that garden with the United States department of agriculture and then they want 20% for donations to the less fortunate
@@teresaholland4790 It is my understanding that the FDA is requesting co-op gardens be registered with the FDA. Just don't do it. Government does not need to know where all of our food is. They have already messed up our food markets. This could lead to wanting individual gardeners to register. Just zip your lips and happy gardening.
@@teresaholland4790 😄
Hey James! I was doing the same thing in my garden/food forest. I emptied my leaf tower so I am starting another one and I emptied my compost bin and am starting another one. I have divided my garden/food forest into 3 zones and will have a compost pile in each close to where I need it. I like your admonition to let nature and gravity do the work. Gardening is just like investing in the future you and your future fresh food. A total stranger came up to me in my front garden and complimented me on the microclimate caused by my garden/food forest. She noticed that it was markedly cooler for people that walk by especially in our subtropical summers. Cheers from Down Under!
L on
Leaves are so great. Most people are bothered by them, but I get excited for what they make in soil. Hi Tuck!
I know just what you mean. Us gardeners have a bit different of a perspective lol
My Filipino husband can't seem to understand why I dont burn my leaves, as we are composting them, after I explained we are making compost. Hes a 3rd world country, city boy, which means they stood around and did nothing productive, and when there was work to be done, like raking leaves, they raked them into a big pile to burn them and be done. Lol I figure if there are leaves to be raked, they may as well earn their keep.
@@jillhumphrys8073 they really do make great compost.
@@jillhumphrys8073 My wife is from Ph and it's the opposite. Most people burn/dispose of leaves regardless of what country they come from, you're actually in the minority. Saving leaves for compost is not common knowledge. I'm not even a city boy. I grew up getting my hands dirty but as men, I'm sure we've done more heavy lifting and building. Not everyone specializes in the garden tending to plants, that's why we watch videos like these to help us out. Not sure how he's from Ph and you call him a city boy, a lot of them live in bamboo huts and know how to work, unless their parents are politicians. Still not exactly like living in New York.
@@otallono what a coincidence..i have a cousin named Brian and his wife is Phillippina!
I have two compost piles. Gomer Pile and Uriah heap. 😁 I’m older, I know the connection, my daughters think I’m nuts. They don’t get it.
What I like is that you show the garden year round. Some people film more videos in the summer and they post throughout the winter.
Thanks John. Yeah I like to keep everything up to date so most people can follow along with their garden. Videos that were filmed then edited and posted basically right after have a different feel to me for some reason too, almost like a live, rawness, TH-cam feel. Not to overproduced
The Gardening Channel With James Prigioni Yeah it makes it a lot easier to understand and replicate in our own garden.
@@jamesprigioni and
I used to hate leaves, my husband and I used to argue about when is the best time to bag those leaves for pickup. We have a maple tree (used to have 2, one was hit by a bolt of thunderstorm lightning), a huge magnolia tree, and some smaller flowering trees on our property. 3 years ago, we were so lazy that we only bagged a few bags of leaves( from the driveway) and left the majority on the lawn, the coming spring, we had a lot of bare spots on our front lawn. Now I know what I can do with those leaves that I have my mini garden, I plan to add two raised beds this summer so next spring I can fill them with my own compost! Thanks, we are in the same state so I can literally follow your timeline!
So much enthusiasm and information in your voice, made me want to start a compost pile! Thank you:)
Thank you for your attention to giving detailed information. It is so helpful to someone like me trying to learn from complete scratch
Thanks so much, James. Great hands on visual as to how to get super good compost. Always learning so much from you. Thanks for your consistency, diligence and perseverance. All of us fellow growers are inspired and motivated by what you're doing.
I just started watching you last week and I'm sure learning a lot .....😂fast. Thanks for all your tips.
You have the BEST gardening videos on YT...Thank You..
James, your videos are so informative. You’re a very good teacher, and we appreciate so much what you share with the world. Cheers to your health, and Tuck’s too!
Thanks James for the info. I have mountains of leaves, probably way more than I need. I will be taking your tips and putting them into practice! You and Tuck ROCK!
Best video composting you and Charles Dowding!
Thank you!
This is super helpful and full of information for someone just starting out learning about compost. Thank you for being so clear and simplifying it all.
Your ENERGY!!! YOUR MOTIVATION!!! JUST WANT ME TO GET UP AND GO DO SOMETHING ON THE GARDEN(NEW) IT'S CONTAGIOUS!!! THAAAAANK UUU!!
I love your enthusiasm. You are one with the earth,and you have so much fun gardening. I'll keep on watching you throughout the year. Great job. Please keep it up. Many thanks.
Great video James. I’ve seen several leaf compost videos and your is at the top of my likes! I enjoy your channel very much. Always something new to learn. Thanks for teaching us to have a beautiful garden.
I've been following your videos for a while and I just want to thank you for sharing so much knowledge that helps me tremendously in my food forest/permaculture journey! May God bless you, Tuck and your food forests!
I recommend a leaf blower with the mulching attachment. A mower can work too, but the blower creates a finer particle size. Once time, I ran out of paper bags for the mulched leaves and dumped them in a dark corner of the yard. After several weeks, it turned into nice, rich black soil without me even touching it. Filled with earthworms too. Toss the blower-mulched leaves into your pile and it will speed up the process.
Love your energy and easy no fuss advice. You are straight to the point which is what we all appreciate. Hello from Australia.
I just chop all the leaves up from my yard so it has grass clippings mixed in....spread over my garden then add another layer of tree mulch from my friends tree service. He brings me truckloads of mulch when it's the "good" whole tree with leaves and bark kind. I put about 5 inches of this down. When I plant in spring it's all broken down. I had ungrowable dense heavy clay soil. It is now a Gardener's Paradise
I really appreciate your videos :) I just bought a house on a couple of acres and can't wait to get my compost and food garden going. Your videos are a huge help!!
In years past I spent so much time building a structure for compost. This system your doing, moves the beneficial stuff about. I like it a lot.
That dog is so cute, I’m dying!!😍
Great compost/ leaf mold lesson, much appreciate.
Hi James. You are a favorite of mine. I love your enthusiasm and your knowledge. I believe that your mindset and love of nature and gardening are what helps your food forest thrive. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. Peace🦋
I thought I had a grasp on the ins and outs of composting. I truly took notes because several points you mentioned, I was completely oblivious to. Now I'm extremely excited to start gathering leaves tomorrow and I can't wait for Spring!
I love our videos! You not only show us what to do but explain why! I’m the type of person that likes to know why. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and love.
My first compost bin was a success! I mixed it into my raised bed. I'm working on batch number two, and it's looking good.
Lov your energy and knowledge. You're my favorite gardener . I learn so much from your videos.
Great info and you speak fast and don’t waist any time. Thank you~!!!
I add leaves to my covered run each fall. It keeps the chickens happy & busy. In the spring the chickens have happily done all the work & I reap the rewards for my garden.
Mae Simpson - mine has a shingled roof. Much like a house or a shed.
One of the VERY best gardening teachers. God bless you! I am a teacher and I LOVE watching you share and educate all of us about your passion. Thank you for supporters novice and seasoned Gardners alike.
Thank you. One of the best leaf mold/compost videos I've seen.
Let's go. I got arborist chips. Mower shredded leaves, and fish fertilizer from the seafood shop. Four new plum trees. Stanley, Rosey Gage, mount Royal, blues jam.
LET'S GOOOO SAMUEL!!!
Sounds heavenly!
What do I ask for at the seafood shop?
Hey James, I'm new to the channel and just wanted to say I really appreciate your videos! I'm in a pretty populated city in Florida but have a nice yard that I've been gardening in for a few months now, have learned a lot from you. Keep doing what you're doing 👍
Much appreciation to you for all your time researching best practices. ☘️
I am thrilled to have found this INFO. as we have LEAVES everywhere where we live! Thank you James and happy mulching to ya!
Best composting video! Our neighbors have so many trees that we end up with truckloads of leaves. This tall composting tower method saved us many trips to the dump. Thank you, James.
Duuude I was just looking at how to make easy compost(no lie) and this is literally my fave video already. Happy gardening 2020!!
😃😃I am thrilled to have found this INFO. as we have LEAVES everywhere where we live! Thank you James and happy mulching to ya!😃😃😃
Thank you James. This is another instructive video. This is kind of a new process for the common public. I am part of that. Thank you for imparting your knowledge.
I've only been seriously gardening a few years ...I didn't know about the carbon / nitrogen thing...although I've been composting. Thank you ! So easily and quickly explained ! Love how you get right to the point and don't doddle...thank you so much !!!
Great video! I just turned my mainly leaf compost today and I spent so much effort moving it because the leaves matted. I really like the wire setup you have. The speed blew my mind. Leaving weeds to grow is also a good tip for me to have more greens available for composting. I collected a bunch of leaves last year but definitely will need more this year as browns to keep up with all the annuals I'm planning this season. Your videos are also great because the timing is about the same as I'm nearby in NY
What you’re showing is a confirmation of what I’m doing on the leaves of my garden. Thanks. Stay safe from covid..
James, really enjoy your informative videos also seeing how you are preparing for the up coming growing season. I'm sure that little Tuck will be thrilled during the high yield time.
Was playing with my leaves for composting today and had questions.. perfect timing! Thanks!
Let's Gooo!! Perfect!
Thanks James..Happy New Year to you and Tuc. Because of you I have a year into a fabulous food forest. Love you!
Love your enthusiasm for composting bro!
Very good video on composting using what is at our finger tips and under our nose around the yard. Excellently done!! Thanks!!
I had issues with leaf mold jumping to my heirloom tomatoes. The hybrid varieties were OK.. but I had to ease up on the leaf mulch in/around the heirlooms and stick to the weed cloth to keep water from splashing back up onto the lower leaves.
Definitely my favourite TH-cam Gardener sir. Absolutely love your enthusiasm, and your the one that started me growing and you tubing. So thank you very much. 💯
Let’s Goooo!! Glad to hear that my friend. Me and Tuck appreciate the kind words
@@jamesprigioni no problem at all James, thank you for making gardening cool, and fairly easy. 😊😁
You are a real help to all of us gardeners. Thank you sooooooo much.
Thank you James. I learn so much from you. You have inspired me a lot. All your videos are great.
I have a side driveway, seldom used. The oak leaves pile up. I had been sweeping them to remove, one year i noticed it was decomposing and found red wigglers, no more sweeping. I wait for them to decompose and scoop them up with a flat shovel. It is without a handle and works perfectly. Nope i seldom discard even broken garden items. God growing 💋 to U and Tuck 💝💝💝💝
I learn a ton from you and enjoy watching your videos. But I have to admit, I get the biggest kick from seeing Tuck marching through. He's the cutest little guy!
I love his energy. I'm totally into gardening now and I just can't seem to stop watching random TH-cam videos about gardening haha
I love watching your channel, I learn so much! You and Tuck Rock! The little guy is so cute! Feed him well!❤❤❤❤
Dude, I'm so glad I've found your videos recently! I've been binge watching them, haha, but getting lots of inspiration from you. I've started working on my compost pile (mainly leaves) the past few weeks, and I'm getting ready to start a vermicompost bin. I also love lil Tuck! He reminds me so much of the sweet Yorkie I had when I was a kid. :)
Love it love it love it I’m doing the same thing you’re keeping me on track thank you so much❤️👍 i’m using hydrated lime is that OK😊
Love your videos! Super positive, super informative!
This compost vid was right on time, thank you!
Thank you, James! Such gold nuggets of good information!
Love your vids and your enthusiasm even more! Being from Jersey too, I love to garden and have been using leaves for many years. Just use the leaf blower mulch attachment, disperse into my garden and turn over 3x before planting. Usually November December and then early March. The leaves are completely broken down and I have phenomenal soil where I once had clay.
Do you use a fancy leaf blower to mulch or will a regular one work?
@@ninambengue I use an old Toro which has a mulching capability and is designed to have duel capabilities.. Basically the motor takes air in one side and out the other. When I place the tube part on the other side it sucks in everything and chops it up then sends it out the other side into a collection bag. Just make sure yours is designed to do both.
My garden is still going strong with lettuce, Brussels, carrots, spinach, Tatsoi, Bok Choy,
Composting is bad ass! Imagine what energy came from the ground goes back to the ground overt and over.
Your videos are fun to watch. You make everything so accessible.
Glad to hear that Christopher! That's one of the main reasons me and Tuck love TH-cam!
Heck yeah, another great video, super helpful thank you. You make it look really straightforward. I admire how you use leaf "waste" from your neighborhood.
Making compost in mid January in New Jersey wearing a tee shirt for the Win !!
I live in a forested area, so I have access to a lot of leaves. I first started to use leaves two years ago, when I created a new garden bed where the soil was mostly clay. I needed to lighten up that soil, so I added a huge quantity of dried, shredded leaves. This helped significantly to lighten up the soil. Last year, I started using dried leaves as mulch between cultivated rows for weed suppression. This spring, I plan to use the old mulch over the cultivated beds and add more leaves to the aisles. I also use leaves in my compost pile, it works really well. Because we have a lot of critters, like raccoons and chipmunks, I also started to use make vegetable scrap shakes, that I pour in the compost pile. This way, I ensure that they cannot steal food from the pile, because it breaks down so fast. I also plan to use leaves on the his year to start growing potatoes using the Ruth Stout method. All of these practices are very new to me, so I cannot vouch for the efficiency for all of them, but I can already tell that adding leaves has significantly improved the clayish part of my garden.
same for me, i'm surrounded by forest so can just walk in there with my wheel barrow and pick up unlimited amounts of surface leaf cover
@@TheSateef try loading the leaves on a tarp and drag them to your garden. They weigh next to nothing, so you can move huge amounts in minute with this method.
@@daniellebissonnette3304 i'd like to dig down into the already composed part which will be pretty heavy after the snow melts
Another, wonderful and informative video James. Thanks for spreading the love; no pun intended. ;)
You are helping my green sanctuary Brother! Thank you!
For those who are serious about using leaves & need a large amount to get started web search Johnson-Su Compost Bioreactor. (No NRC liscense required. 😉)
Dr. Elaine Ingham suggests if you live in a humid climate don't line the wire cage with landscape fabric, but rather leave it open on the sides. A highly humid climate may cause it to go anareobic.
inspiring man. i can't wait to get my property and grow my own food.
Start now in pots.😊
I love the sweet scent of finished compost.
I haven’t watched your videos in a while. It feels so good to be back 😊
very cool. I am in arctic Ottawa valley and I add to my compost all winter long. It doesn't cook, but the freezing and thawing breaks it down and gets it ready to cook come the spring.
Hi Colin. Thank you for sharing this! I am very new to the gardening/permaculture scene. Initially I was feeling apprehensive because so many great examples are coming from warmer climates than my own. Coming across Canadian or cold climate examples like yours is very encouraging. So thank you again and please keep sharing. -Hailey (your cold-weather friend from Calgary AB)
@@haileytyers1360 I'm lethbridge, so you're not too far away.
I consistently add to my compost. Between kitchen scraps and leaves and watering it...keep trying!
@@haileytyers1360 I'm in Ontario. Our growing season isn't that long but its powerful
Me too, I live in Vermont, have composted for 40 years. I have to say for my way of composting, which is slow, you don't need to be scientific really. I add some garden stuff, some cut grass and kitchen scraps including coffee grounds for greens, also comfrey leaves chopped up, and leaves and small twigs for browns, sometimes some sawdust if we're chopping wood or cutting down scrub and grinding it up. The urine works as an activator for sure! My son and his friends peed on the compost pile for whole time they grew up, and I always have a huge bunch of beautiful black compost to use in the spring. Don't be afraid of the process--it's basically just a big old pile that will break down very fast once spring is here. But in winter, it is over my head, and frozen!
Please include some footage of your chickens, and more acknowledgment of their lives keeping you and your garden healthy.
Yeah, some more detailed explanation of your chickens, their coops, how you manage them in your garden so they can do what is beneficial to your garden without causing damage, would be very helpful.
I drive around town collecting the bagged leaves people throw out,,,feeling blessed!!!
Another excellent, informative, useful video, James! Thank you!
Really good video describing the details of composting! What do you recommend for people who don't have access to animal manure? Will the time frame change? Thanks!
Same here! I don’t have chickens or coffee grounds. I have a big bag of fertilizer though. What do you do with it? Spread it on your garden spot? I’ve always just planted the garden & it does fine without using compost. 🤷♀️🤔
Hey James - is that a new fence behind your block? Will it cast shade on you food forest? If so, how will you manage that?
Use a mirror to reflect light in that direction 👌
This was the best explanation ive seen on compost. Thanks james
Happy New Year James! Thanks for all you do!
I accidentally made compost by leaving a bag of leaves and various clipping in a lawn and leaf bag, outside all winter. When I came back it was all broken down and just amazing. No fencing, nothing fancy. Just let it sit outdoors instead of putting out to the curb. You'd be amazed.
This happened to me but with dog poo, I was shocked at the sweetest smelling earth like dirt when I opened a forgotten black trash bag that wintered outside. Powerful stuff!
Thank you so much for all the knowledge you make available to people! I'm new to gardening, but it's so exciting and it feels so good to use my kitchen waste in a responsible way. Thank you and keep up the great informative videos
You’re welcome Brittany! And thank you for your kind words.
You will love it the more you do it. Nothing like eating what you grow, it’s empowering and addicting
I've been a long time subscriber and I just now clicked the bell to get notifications. Great video right up my alley leaf compost/mold. My 81 year old Dad has 11 trees inside his property so there are quite a few leaves that up to this year he has just leaf blowered or raked to the the rock fence (that he built) and then lit them on fire. This year I bought him a Worx leaf shredder and a 50' roll of 2"x4" welded wire to make cages. We have been using collected rain water to moisten the leaves instead of city water because our city water is not suitable for even taking a shower in.
What an amazing wealth of information you are! Thank you! I live in the desert southwest where leaves are not as plentiful as back east. But luckily I have a giant mulberry tree in my front yard that provides plenty of 'compost gold' for my pile. I mix with goat manure from a local ranch and have been very happy with the results.
Why do I feel like a “Dj Khaled” hook is coming soon? Lol. Solid video brother. I have tons of leaves in my yard and I cant wait to try this out. 👍🏽
Instead of using a leaf blower, I use the vacuum attachment/bag of mine. It chops the leaves finer than the mower=faster decomp 😁
Love your energy and enthusiasm.
Love your enthusiasm!!
We're in winter now, wearing a t-shirt!
We are experiencing one of the warmest winters on record.
Hahahah where you stuffed that piece of plastic in your back pocket.... I just grinned because... I relate!
Haha!! Yeah it’s like. Uhhh what should I do with this, hmmm stuff it in my pocket and keep moving. When I get started and focused on something, WATCH OUT, casualties incoming lol
Love your passion. Really epic garden!! Well done !!
Looking forward to this fall. Going to collect everyone’s leaves. I have lots of green material. Thanks for the video. Very helpful
Great energy brah !!!
Thanks bruv