leaves and pasture

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I've reviewed the pasture thread but have not found anything about leaves and pasture. I have a simple question -- should I try to remove the leaves in my "pasture" to accelerate grass growth?

I have about 1 acre in New Hampshire that I am trying to convert to pasture for 2 sheep. The acre is dry with lots of boulders. It seems like it was open at one point, then abandoned and grew back in small saplings and raspberries when we came to own it. The first few years were spent beating back the saplings and berry bushes. Now there is grass, but there is also lots of leaves from the surrounding hardwood trees (mostly sugar maples). I am tempted to get out there with a rake to get rid of the leaves because they seem to be decomposing so slowly. Would it do any good?

I think the next step after this will be to establish the correct pH and vegetation types -- any hints on this are welcome (though there seems to be info on this from past questions that I will also research).

Thanks!

Kathy from the Granite state

-- Kathy lambert (thelamberts@valley.net), April 15, 2002

Answers

Mulch... it is mulch. Keeps the ground moist and cool. Nature grows lovely meadows without raking.

Take a deep breath. Relax.

God's schedule for decomposition is not compost in 14 days.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002.


I would, leaves are very slow to compost, especially if they are allowed to layer one upon another, there is no surface area for the composting to work on. Plus, if the layers of leaves is very extensive, they will keep out the grass that you are wanting to grow.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), April 15, 2002.

If you can work your way around the rocks run over the leaves with some type of rotary mower,this will help get them up off the grass and the mowed leaves will be 'fluffed' up enough not to kill the grass plus the ground up leaves will decompose faster.Also if you have it a light application of manure will speed up the leaf decomposition.

-- Gary (burnett_gary@msn.com), April 16, 2002.

Around here, people will "flash" burn pastures, fields and lawns that they want to green up quickly. The burning cleans up leaves and any embedded thatch from the previous growing season. The fire should never burn hot enough to penetrate the ground and kill off the worms and beneficial insects. Check to find out whether or not you need a burning permit. After burning, it's really amazing how fast the grass starts growing!!

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), April 16, 2002.

I would sprinkle a little manure on the leaves. It will help the leaves to compost away.

Lots of companies sell microbials that help the leaves to compost. Once the leaves are composted, those same microbials are good for your soil. They might even stick around year after year to break down the leaves in the future.

Earthworms eat lots of leaves ....

-- Paul Wheaton (paul@richsoil.com), April 16, 2002.



I use the lawnmower to pick leaves up and shred them. I'm not doing it for the grass, though. I've been dumping them in my garden and herb beds. If you don't need them for mulch, just run the mower over them to grind them up, and leave them where they fall. They'll turn into dirt in no time at all.

-- Connie (Connie@lunehaven.com), April 17, 2002.

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