Should I use soil from under a huge beech tree in my veg plot?
in Fruit & veg
Hi
My quest to improve the clay soil for my new veg beds (and in my polytunnel) continues.
We have a humongous beech tree in our garden. I don't think the ground beneath it has been disturbed for years. Very little grows - I guess on account of the lack of light - and there is a carpet of leaves, nut shells, and twigs.
Have I potentially got my own supply of leaf mould, or at least decent soil, here? I thought perhaps from the years of leaves, shells, etc breaking down that the soil beneath could be good to transport over to the veg beds and polytunnel? Is this something people with the same option do or are there reasons why it wouldn't be such a good idea?
Sorry for all the questions... I'm trying to make the transition from being green to being green fingered
Cheers
A few photos to help visualise:





My quest to improve the clay soil for my new veg beds (and in my polytunnel) continues.
We have a humongous beech tree in our garden. I don't think the ground beneath it has been disturbed for years. Very little grows - I guess on account of the lack of light - and there is a carpet of leaves, nut shells, and twigs.
Have I potentially got my own supply of leaf mould, or at least decent soil, here? I thought perhaps from the years of leaves, shells, etc breaking down that the soil beneath could be good to transport over to the veg beds and polytunnel? Is this something people with the same option do or are there reasons why it wouldn't be such a good idea?
Sorry for all the questions... I'm trying to make the transition from being green to being green fingered

Cheers
A few photos to help visualise:





0
Posts
I should have been a bit clearer in as much as the plan was to use the soil beneath all of the leaves etc. So I'd be raking all that back first. I hoped the soil beneath may have benefited from the decaying leaves etc, but perhaps not then...
On your point @GemmaJF, I was thinking that the leaves etc on top could be a good addition to the compost heap.... Would it serve as good "brown material" to mix with house and garden greens? Is that what you were saying?
Ta