[Arid_gardener] ficus and orange bells leaves

[olindmiller]

If you did not use chemical sprays, it should not be a problem.  But leave 
are slow to break down in our alkaline soil.  You could sped the process by 
shredding them by running them through a rotary mower.  Composting would be 
preferable in my opion.

Olin
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----- Original Message ----- From: "Michelle B" <mmb at storyteller.net>
Sent: Saturday, February 24, 2007 10:25 AM
> Before I cut back the dead branches of my ficus nitida trees and my orange 
> bells, which (like most I am sure) suffered extreme frost damage, I want 
> to make good use of all those leaves. They look like they would make a 
> good mulch on my vegetable beds. Are there any toxins in the leaves of 
> these trees, or any other reason that they should NOT be used as mulch? 
> Otherwise they will go in the compost pile.