Taking Leaves

Sharon Marie · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:31 pm Post subject: Taking Leaves

Is it considered "bad" etiquette to take leaves from the neighbors pile left at the end of the driveway? There are some areas where I'd like to have these leaves for a new compost area - since mine this year is ruined - I have to start over.
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rainbowgardener · Mod Joined: 15 Feb 2009 Posts: 6147 Location: Ohio, USA

If it is your next door neighbor, I'd ask permission, just in the interest of keeping good relations. People usually don't mind at all. But I have been known to drive around the neighborhood with a rake and bags and bag up piles of leaves to take home...

Sharon Marie · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:14 am Post subject:

Well, I was thinking more along the lines of - down the street - as my next door neighbor and I just have a willow tree and a bradford pear (I think that's what it is anyhow). I'll knock on a few doors just in case. In the compost forum - there is a really neat compost bin idea that I'm going to have my dad help me build. I'd like to build three of them - and the leaves this fall will be great for getting it started. Smile

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Marlingardener · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 6:19 pm Post subject:

I'd think your neighbors would be thrilled to donate their leaves to your new compost piles--just ask nicely and tell them why you want them. Of course, after you use the compost next year, and have lovely flowers or great vegetables, it wouldn't hurt to give the donors a bouquet or a few tomatoes as a thank-you. Watch out, or strangers will start delivering leaves to you!
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The Helpful Gardener · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 6:35 pm Post subject:

Good answer Marlin!

And best of luck on the compost, Sharon. It is hard work but I love the results; you'll know you came by them honestly and safely and no other creatures were harmed in the making of your mulch/fertilizer/biological innoculant...

HG
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Sharon Marie · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:11 pm Post subject:

Yeah - I don't know that I'd mind if leaves started showing up in bags anyway.. just not dumped out on the driveway. lol.
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Zone 6A - Jeffersonville, Indiana

pepper4 · Green Thumb Joined: 20 Mar 2009 Posts: 611 Location: Ohio

Sharon, too bad you don't live near me because you could have all the leaves you wanted. There's trees everywhere. Where I live anything that hits the tree lawn is for the taking. City owns it but of course we have to maintain it. Dispite that unless you know your neighbors well around here unfortunately you have to worry about even going on someones tree lawn for leaves. Crying or Very sad

Good luck with the compost Wink

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opabinia51 · Mod Joined: 21 Oct 2004 Posts: 4676 Location: Victoria, BC

When I ask my neighbours if I can rake up their leaves they are always more than happy to have me do so. Actually, the first response is usually, "How much would you charge?" they are tickled pink when I say "Nothing, I just want your leaves for my compost."
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petalfuzz · Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 2:12 pm Post subject:

I gathered neighbors' leaves last year. I went out in the evening and the first house I stopped at was very enthusiastic and wanted me to cart away all his rotting apples too. I was lucky to find a huge pile of leaves at an apartment building with no one around, so I made several trips there. Wink

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Zone 5b

Sharon Marie · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 5:09 pm Post subject:

I am now starting to see several people with large brown lawn recycling bags - they are paper.. I'm going to go out today and get some Smile

I am to excited about getting my new compost started!
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Reduce - Reuse - Recycle.
Zone 6A - Jeffersonville, Indiana

gixxerific · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 5:39 pm Post subject:

Who cares if it is bad etiquette. Though it's not just ask. I would ask my neighbors for theirs but it wouldn't be worth it, the trees in my subdivision are still small. So I go to out of the way places and take them. Though My boss said when would be more than happy to let me have his.

Hey they are just leaves, and bring them some fresh garden veggies and they will love you for taking their trash.
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cynthia_h · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:23 am Post subject:

gixxerific · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 4:48 pm Post subject:

The Helpful Gardener · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 2:22 am Post subject:

Just found out the folks at Old Purple Farm are going to let me take their leaves; already chewed up by a big old John Deer Estate model . There's YARDS of chipped leaves!

JACKPOT!

Very Happy

HG
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pepper4 · Green Thumb Joined: 20 Mar 2009 Posts: 611 Location: Ohio

This is a 2 fold question. If you collect leaves from curbs ect.. and the trees were or have diseases would this harm your soil and second are grass clippings along with mulched leaves ok to use ?
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Bambi