Chinese Elm leaves as mulch?? Yes or No?

[JW]

I have two Chinese Elm trees that drop a lot of small leaves once a year. I
rounded them all up and have been storing them in plastic garbage bags. I
was thinking about using them as a mulch in my raised garden. Should I not
do this? Is there something lurking within that will harm all of my vegies?

Any info would be great.

Thanks,

-Jason

[Pat Kiewicz]

JW said:
>
>I have two Chinese Elm trees that drop a lot of small leaves once a year. I
>rounded them all up and have been storing them in plastic garbage bags. I
>was thinking about using them as a mulch in my raised garden. Should I not
>do this? Is there something lurking within that will harm all of my vegies?

Walnut leaves I would worry about, as they can be toxic to certain plants. But Elm
leaves (so far as I've ever heard) should be safe as a mulch.

My experience is that shredded leaves make a more effective mulch as they
are less prone to matting into soggy layers. I don't know if your Chinese elm
leaves are small enough to avoid this (unless they are *much* smaller than the
leaves of the Siberian elms that grow in my neighborhood).

--
Pat in Plymouth MI

Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
(attributed to Don Marti)