What can I do with lots of laurel leaves?

Mum2mj · « **on:** April 10, 2015, 13:58 »

Just cut back a massive overhanging laurel, are the leaves any good for eventual leaf mold or to put in the chicken run or anyhing? Thanks

Springlands · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2015, 14:18 »

I am assuming that it is not a Bay Laurel which is used in cooking. Otherwise Laurel leaves are poisonous so I would certainly not use it in the chicken run. I would even think that it would not be good to use as a leaf mould. Hope that helps.

Mum2mj · « **Reply #2 on:** April 10, 2015, 14:19 »

Quote from: Springlands on April 10, 2015, 14:18

I am assuming that it is not a Bay Laurel which is used in cooking. Otherwise Laurel leaves are poisonous so I would certainly not use it in the chicken run. I would even think that it would not be good to use as a leaf mould. Hope that helps.

No, not a bay, didn't realise they were poisonous - thanks!

Kleftiwallah · « **Reply #3 on:** April 10, 2015, 14:31 »

See if the Olympic committee has any use for them!

(I'll get me coat).

Cheers, Tony.

8doubles · « **Reply #4 on:** April 10, 2015, 16:15 »

Let them dry a bit then have a bonfire, the oily leaves burn REALLY fast !

Mum2mj · « **Reply #5 on:** April 10, 2015, 17:35 »

Quote from: 8doubles on April 10, 2015, 16:15

Let them dry a bit then have a bonfire, the oily leaves burn REALLY fast !

Perfect, how long should I leave them to dry?

snowdrops · « **Reply #6 on:** April 10, 2015, 17:49 »

Can you shred them,or chop with a rotary lawn mower & add to the compost bin.or let them dry & then compost

8doubles · « **Reply #7 on:** April 10, 2015, 17:56 »

Quote from: Mum2mj on April 10, 2015, 17:35

Quote from: 8doubles on April 10, 2015, 16:15
Let them dry a bit then have a bonfire, the oily leaves burn REALLY fast !

Perfect, how long should I leave them to dry?

On a hot fire they will burn freshly cut but throw out a lot of white smoke, the dryer they are the less smoke.

Comfreypatch · « **Reply #8 on:** April 10, 2015, 18:42 »

Take them to the local recycling centre. Their compost gets hotter than our bins. They are not suitable for garden composting because they are poisonous.

Kristen · « **Reply #9 on:** April 11, 2015, 10:13 »

Quote from: Comfreypatch on April 10, 2015, 18:42

They are not suitable for garden composting because they are poisonous.

That would be more than half the plants in my garden ruled out! including things like Rhubarb leaves ...

Laurel leaves will compost e.g. as leaf mould, but they take a blinking long time. I think best to put leaves like that in a separate pile. If the Arsenic in them upsets the fungi that will break them down then that won't interfere with other, faster decomposing, leaves if they are in a separate pile. Shredding them will help speed up the process ("collecting" them, or spreading them on the lawn and then collecting them, with a rotary mower will do the job)

Annen · « **Reply #10 on:** April 11, 2015, 10:26 »

Would they work as paths if they take a long time to degrade? I've used conifer clippings on my paths and they last for ages.

8doubles · « **Reply #11 on:** April 11, 2015, 11:43 »

Quote from: Annen on April 11, 2015, 10:26

Would they work as paths if they take a long time to degrade? I've used conifer clippings on my paths and they last for ages.

When they got wet it would be like having a path made of banana skins !
When dry they would blow all over the place.

A decent depth of conifer needles is the shag pile carpet of the path world !

grendel · « **Reply #12 on:** April 11, 2015, 12:47 »

learn to weave them and become a Roman emperor.
Grendel

JayG · « **Reply #13 on:** April 11, 2015, 13:21 »

Laurel is just one of a surprising number of common plants which are cyanogenic (oh yes, folks, I've been Gurgling again!)

The compounds responsible are broken down by composting (and any cyanide produced will slowly escape harmlessly into the atmosphere) but as with many tough evergreen leaves that will take a long time - OK if you've got an unused area where you can leave them for a few years I suppose, but personally I'd suggest letting the council recycle them if the facilities exist where you are.

8doubles · « **Reply #14 on:** April 11, 2015, 20:10 »

Quote from: JayG on April 11, 2015, 13:21

Laurel is just one of a surprising number of common plants which are cyanogenic (oh yes, folks, I've been Gurgling again!)

The compounds responsible are broken down by composting (and any cyanide produced will slowly escape harmlessly into the atmosphere) but as with many tough evergreen leaves that will take a long time - OK if you've got an unused area where you can leave them for a few years I suppose, but personally I'd suggest letting the council recycle them if the facilities exist where you are.

A good few trips with the wheel barrow because that nasty carbon monoxide and CO2 that comes from your exhaust pipe will be doing nobody any favours !

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What can I do with lots of laurel leaves?

Mum2mj

What can I do with lots of laurel leaves?

Springlands

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Mum2mj

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Kleftiwallah

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8doubles

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Mum2mj

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snowdrops

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8doubles

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Comfreypatch

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Kristen

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Annen

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8doubles

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grendel

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JayG

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8doubles

Re: What can I do with lots of laurel leaves?

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