Amending with raw organic material

[squashnut]

i was wondering what everyone consitered was enough fluffy leaves and garden residue piled on garden beds would equal the right amount of finished compost.
It is after all time to start piling on all you can get. i need from 2- 3 inches of finished compost for my clay/loam soil. More clay than loam I think.
I have been putting everything I can get all summer but want to give the garden something extra to chew on during it's off time.

[Pharmer Phil]

Stop adding those leaves...when You wear yourself Out! Till them in, or shred them with your mower, and next spring...Garden Gold! Other items maybe added, although kitchen scraps will not break down as easily. Another advantage is that the leaf content will smother out many weeds!!

[Compost Pharmer]

I agree with Phil. What I do is lay down newspaper first before putting down the grass clippings/ground up leaves, that act as a mulch. It helps to stop the weeds from growing. Yes I still get some weeds that I pull out and lay on the garden. As the mulch decays, it provides a slow release fertilizer to the soil. You want to feed the soil and not your plants. The microbes, in the soil, convert the fertilizer into a easily digested food for your plants. Compost, mulch, and shredded up leaves are one of the best fertilizers there are. Never till in manure then plant your garden. It is to hot and will burn the plants roots. It should first be composted. Some other good amendments are, dried molasses, horticultural cornmeal, and humus.

[Pharmer Phil]

gar said:

I agree with Phil. What I do is lay down newspaper first before putting down the grass clippings/ground up leaves, that act as a mulch. It helps to stop the weeds from growing. Yes I still get some weeds that I pull out and lay on the garden. As the mulch decays, it provides a slow release fertilizer to the soil. You want to feed the soil and not your plants. The microbes, in the soil, convert the fertilizer into a easily digested food for your plants. Compost, mulch, and shredded up leaves are one of the best fertilizers there are. Never till in manure then plant your garden. It is to hot and will burn the plants roots. It should first be composted. Some other good amendments are, dried molasses, horticultural cornmeal, and humus.

Excellent Post Greg, _{and not cause you agreed with me} :: Well put together and I just love to hear this kind of explanation, over and over again, It takes lots of rhetoric to convince people that their soil is alive, and not just DIRT! Keep up the Great Job