Are you selling some of your leaf mold to Radical Splittist Composters? Worried about the Federal Compost Commission? Unless you've some special reason to be extra-precise, if you're happy with the results, don't worry about it.

That said, formally I think of it as mostly from dry leaves fallen from trees seasonally. I presume you're trimming hostas, which tend to green. But frankly over the timeframes involved, doubt it makes much difference to the end result. Arguably different water content of new leaves different, but again, doubt it matters much in the end.

Purists may disagree. You can tell I'm not one.

Just my opinion - but for me the thing that makes leaves "leaf mold" is the cold composting of the high-carbon material over a long period of time. In this way, leaf mold has very similar properties to the remains of a tree that has decomposed slowly over the years. Except they get there much faster because they are easier for the fungus to digest. So, some stray bits of twig or fading green perennial stalks won't really change that. I say, just keep doing what you are doing.

That’s a great and good question. You probably know already but I’m gonna say it. Layers: green and brown. Leaves and grass clippings work the fastest bc grass is so high in Nitro and chopped up small. Tip: Hosta leaves are largish; throw in a bucket, garden cart, lg black bag, then take yr shovel and chop chop chop straight up and down to make pieces smaller (not like grass clippings, you’ll kill your self!!!) but just to juice em up a bit. I have large banana leaves. I chop chop them and works great also wets the pile nicely. Stuff composts faster in the heat of summer. Try to give it a turn. The fungi needs oxyge. I try once a month. Don’t always make it

though :(. Good gardening

Oops! Didn’t answer your question instead told u how to compost. Leaf mold comes before u reach compost. Remaining brown leaves are kind of crumbly and fragil haven’t broken down far enough to not be recognizeable. Compost looks like black/brown soil or dirt. Smells like damp earth.

Spot on floral_uk, thanks for the definition. Just as I figured but was curious how others saw it. Yeah I've been at it a few years. When I was ten years old, Dad had my brothers and me turning a huge compost pile several times a year. So without aging myself, it's been over sixty years. I have become more patient though, I no longer turn the piles, just let nature take its course.

I fully agree with floral_uk and Richard, the proportion is the main thing. The only wrinkle, there's no firm dividing line, and in the end what matters is how much you care about the difference between a "pure" leaf mold vs something of a more traditional compost.

In my leaf piles, I still get spikes of heat even though it's almost all leaves - whether from picking up some other stuff, or some leaves fall more green than others, or for whatever other reason. Much more noticeable heat spikes in the pile (steam coming off) if the leaves are shredded, I think water mix in there makes a difference, but I'm too lazy and disorganised to do controlled experimentation. I shred leaves just to reduce the size of my piles - space limitations - and turn the piles if I want to speed things up a bit (not always successfully, or at least not clear). I don't have enough hosta leaves for it to change the final results but I find them a bit like maple leaves; my large amounts of maple leaves make it worthwhile to shred and turn IF the leaves are mostly dry (weather dependent), otherwise it's too much work. The maple leaves are thick and tough when wet and mat and degrade more slowly if they're not shredded. With enough time left to decompose doesn't matter too much either way.

You are so right. You can work it to death and kill the fun! thanks for the chat💕

Just for fun: if anyone gets a chance pick up a little book called Compost Everything. It’s by

David the Good (interesting name,huh) It’s a super fun read and super interesting especially for newbies but for non-newbies entertains.

read about “weed”tea. Bye all 💃💃💃