How do you burn leaves?

[debilorrah]

Some of us have no choice but to burn. Tumbelweeds, or Russian Thistle as they so kindly named that beast, doesn't compost, and neither do dead Joshua tree branches.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Very true. We have people around here that try to burn wet leaves. All you get is a smoldering pile of smoke. It's horrible.

We compost ours.

 

[chickaddict]

My girls love leaves, I wouldn't burn them. It also happens to be illegal to burn leaves around here without the approval of the fire dept.

 

[sianara]

In our town it is only permissable between January & April (with a permit of course). We also need to just call the fire department and let them know we're burning at such-and-such address (small town

). We always keep a hose turned on and nearby so if fire starts to stray it can be halted. Also as mentioned before never do it on a windy day!

Completely cooled ash is great to add to chicken dust baths too.

eta: The last big burn we did last year DH was convinced the fire was OUT and went inside but when I sprayed water over the pile it sizzled. IT'S NOT OUT DEAR I yelled to the house! I ended up staying out there another 15 minutes with the hose running full throttle over the pile to make sure it was out (calling him bad names in my head cuz it was getting dark out and he had gone inside and I was all alone out there! lol)

 

[sourland]

I bag them with the lawn mower and mulch them. Those are the Princess's wishes. If I had my way, I would simply mow them up and mulch them, but "That's too unsightly."

 

[silkiechicken]

It has never occurred to me to burn leaves... but then again, by the time the leaves fall from trees, it'll have already rained for a solid month, and will continue to rain for another 5 before we go from rain to weekly sprinkles.

 

[ivan3]

Refurbishment of fire (dustbathing) pit? Even with burning we have more leaves than can be used (layered in compost and brush piles/erosion control/etc.). At the base of the fire below are ~100lb. of hickory/black walnut shells.
Let's see: Strike Anywhere Matches, at least modest soil moisture level, humidity 50%+, slow, but steady, air movement with house/coops upwind. When burnt down, raked and spread (no hot spots the following day when flock shows those ashes).