Leafmold

triscka1

Hello

Is it possible to use "fresh" green leaves to make leafmold?  I want to use the leaves from a tree and shrubs I'm going to prune/cut back and they are still green.  If I can't use them, could someone explain to me why I can't.  Thank you

Pete.8

Not really.
Fresh green leaves will just rot down to compost as they are still full of water - so ideal for the compost heap (unless they're thick and waxy like laurel).
It's the dried dead leaves that are needed to make leaf mold. They rot down slowly and produce a very different type of compost

Fairygirl

If you just leave them on the branches to die back, that'll be easier. 
They'll just take longer to break down and be useable when green. 

triscka1

Thank you both.  I'll just have to be patient then!

JoeX

Or let them dry where they fall for a day or two before adding them to the leaf mould pile

Blue Onion

Or just rent a powerful shredder and shred and pile the branches and leaves all together.  It's a good mix of browns and greens.  Put them inside a wire round or something to keep them piles together (as you would leaf mound).  It will make some nice rough compost in a year.  There will still be chunks of wood in it, but that isn't different than most bagged compost these days.  

Fairygirl

If you have grass, you can also tip bigger branches/leaves onto it and use a mower on them to make them smaller. They break down a bit quicker that way. Bit of a faff though, and the branches would have to be thin enough not to jigger the mower up   

triscka1

Thanks JoeX, Blue Onion and Fairygirl - all suggestions appreciated.  

My garden is small without grass so no mower or shredder.  Will just have to work even more on being patient!!

Fairygirl

It's surprising how quickly it works. Ideally, you wait until leaves are off the trees/shrubs though. 
If you let them brown - just leave them somewhere out of sight, then stick them into black bin bags with holes in them, and tuck them away, you should get something useable for next autumn/winter. Make sure they're wet before adding them to the bags 

triscka1

Thanks Fairygirl.  Will do.

Allotment Boy

I like to use old compost bags, with extra holes in.  They are tougher than bin bags, and you are reusing.  I turn them inside out so I know it's not new potting compost, but you don't need to do that.