Dyk, Bobby?

Comments

• LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Fallen leaves are generally pretty low in nutrients, so you probably don’t need to fertilize shade trees whether they stay or go. The bigger issue is that removing a huge input of carbon into the soil leaves you with low organic matter and lowered ability to retain what nutrients do exist. This poor soil quality will stress your trees, but adding fertilizer doesn’t address the root issue.

  Fruit trees generally do need to be fertilized since fruits are much higher in nutrients and are not generally returned to the soil unless you’re doing some kind of poo composting scheme.

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  • Track_Shovel@slrpnk.net ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Point of clarification: organic matter doesn’t really retain the nutrients but acts as the slowly mineralized pool of nutrients associated with soil quality.

    The way you describe it is similar to how a sponge works rather than a storehouse.

    You are right, though, in that you don’t need to fertilize trees for the most part. Forest soils are hilariously low in nutrients: TOC is around 1% and N is next to non existent (N is highly labile), while P and K are moderate to high. As a result, forests veg is most competitive in nutrient poor conditions. If you fertilize a disturbed area, you get a pile of weeds and grass that can set back your revegetation timeline because your desirable woody spp now have to out-compete them. This process still happens if you don’t fertilize, but it’s generally less pronounced and allows some woody plants to gain the foothold they need

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    • LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Well, based on our prior conversations I suspect you know far more about soil science than I do, I only know the basics necessary for arboriculture.

      So what you wrote is of course accurate but I understand both to be at play here—leaves break down into humus that chelates minerals and supports fungi that can hold onto nutrients and keep them from leaching away in rain. Leaves also provide a physical barrier that protects soil from physical erosion. But let me know if I got anything wrong.

      My overall point was mainly just that you don’t need to replace leaves with fertilizer if you are removing them, but it’s still a good idea to leave them in place for other reasons.

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    • mojofrododojo@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      I read a while ago that trees attempt to reduce competition by dropping their leaves to prevent saplings growing too near. Was that all bunk?

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  • Sasha@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Oh that’s so cool, thankyou for sharing!

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  • FarceOfWill@infosec.pub ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I don’t have my books handy, but while they take a lot back this varies by species and the fallen leaves can have a lot of N and P in some cases.

    Though I’ve always seen them shredded and used for making compost anyway rather than leaving them on the ground. Too easy to get rot that way. And you really want to spread them around the rest of the garden if you’ve planted trees that do drop N in the leaves

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    • LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      I’m sure it does vary—my impression is that N fixing trees in particular are going to have higher N levels in the leaves they drop but I’m sure it varies by species as well.

      But from my experience, most urban shade trees don’t really need to be fertilized unless they are exhibiting symptoms of nutrient deficiency—and even then, this is often a symptom of poor soil and root health overall more than a specific lack of a nutrient. Most urban soils tend to be fairly high in nutrients due to air pollutants, excess fertilizers, pet feces, etc.

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• SzethFriendOfNimi@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Tricky balance when you need to manage mold/fungal growth. But yeah, we are “wasting” a lot of nutrients by trashing leaves like we do.

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  • pearsaltchocolatebar@discuss.online ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    That’s why I went for a twin blade mower. It turns everything into powder.

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    • Noodle07@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Does work for my depression as well?

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  • gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    But yeah, we are “wasting” a lot of nutrients by trashing leaves like we do.

    I was raised to compost those fuckers, more people should be doing that

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  • bstix@feddit.dk ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    when you need to manage mold/fungal growth and too much cover killing grass

    “Need to” or " need to " …

    The grass will be fine.

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    • LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Too many leaves will definitely kill the grass.

      Whether that’s a bad thing is a separate question.

      #killyourlawn

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    • Ranger@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Hell you could kill the invasive grasses & replace them with native plants.

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    • marcos@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      There are things that kill grass. And not enough sunlight is one of them.

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• EnsignRedshirt@hexbear.net ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Sadly, Hank is exactly the type of person to do that. The details he shares about his lawn care show that he’s all about artificially tweaking variables and removing uncontrolled factors. This should be Bobby lecturing Hank about his industrialized and unsustainable landscaping practices.

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• FundMECFSResearch@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  !nolawns@slrpnk.net

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  • Rubisco@slrpnk.net ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Kill Your Lawn, NYT

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