Makes a great mulch and an even better soil improver so suggest you use something else for your paths and use it for the soil. ;) As a mulch - 3-4" thick minimum, more if possible.

Dave

Hi, Ikea! I think

Digdirt is spot on. Use shredded bark or something else for your pathways, and mix in all the leaf mold you can get into your beds. It will make your growing medium outstanding. Also, using the mold for a path would not be wise, as the mold will quickly decompose and be muddy after a rain. Misterbaby.

If I have to use bark, I'd have to pay for a lot of them. This leaf mold is completely free... Does it really decompose fast?

Leaf mold is valuable as compost... You wouldn't pave your paths with compost, would you? You can get wood chips from any tree removal company for free. They'll even dump it for you if they're near your location. They have to pay to dispose of it, so they'll be more than glad to help you out usually.

You can use old cardboard for a walkway, or layering newspapers regularly. If you layer the leaves regularly it might work on its own too, but a seed might fall into it and grow.

Can you swing a bale of straw (not hay) for the pathways? It works well for paths and doesn't decompose nearly as rapidly as leaf mold will. Cardboard also works exceptionally well - layer cardboard and then top it with the straw.

Dave

I do have a lot of moving boxes. If it is windy, will they get blown away?

Wet them down when you lay them and that will help reduce the wind movement. Another possibility is old carpet remnants/scraps. They make great "paving" for pathways.

I prefer the old carpet myself for the paths. Everything else decomposes too fast. It depends also how long you want to keep these beds. For two years, wood chips in the paths will be fine. Leaf mold is an exceptional soil conditioner, but slugs will soon come a-calling. They will come whether you have an inch or 7, so go with 7. It will be gone by the end of the season anyway.

I agree, don't 'waste' the leaf mould on your paths. Last year I used cardboard on my paths inside my hoophouse and out in the 'field'. Even with wind, watering and walking, etc., it was stiil in good shape at the end of the season. I pulled it and put it in a pile and will use it again this year.

If it is free and unlimited why wouldn't it be the best idea for paths ....
Its free and unlimited ! !

It turns out to be a wonderful soil amendment...

As you walk on it and/or as it dissipates you simply keep adding more..

Its free....

Besides being free and awesome...what are the drawbacks..

Am I missing something here....it's free....right ???

jon, yeah it is completely free. I just need to move them into my plot from the other side of the community garden. I do plan on putting them in the beds as well.

ikea, you have a natural organic goldmine,it is onsite,and totally free, if it was me ....I would make 6" deep paths and toss that soil on the beds and fill the paths with leafs...
I would then top the beds with lots of leafs and some blood meal and bone meal and maybe some lime water it down and start planting in the spring,you won't have any weeds and even if there were a few,you could easily deal with them.

I have had alot of leaves delivered to my property and am thinking about putting them on my garden. The leaves are from this last season, not decomposed. Should I wait a year before putting them on the garden or go ahead and use them. No walnut leaves, thank goodness.