How do you burn leaves?

[Gallusfarm]

I've never burned anything, but I see a lot of folks burning leaves these days. We're allowed to burn here in the evenings, but I don't know how to do it.

How big of a pile, how do you control it, get it started etc.

Thanks!

 

[booker81]

Folks out here burn, and more than a few fields get burned down as well....

I just run over our leaves with the lawnmower and call it mulching the yard

ETA: THe first thing would be to contact your city/township to get a burn permit and make sure conditions are OK for a burn. They might have some tips as well, so you don't burn down a whole lot more than you intended!

 

[DTchickens]

Don't believe there is any set rules.. Just common sense- don't put the fire near anything you don't want burned. Don't do it on windy days if it is a high pile (could cause it to break out), don't jump in the fire, watch it at all times or most of the time. Having water hose handy is nice.. Also don't want to burn on too dry of a day, it may cause it to catch the grass/nearby plants on fire unless of course you building a fire pit out of rocks or something. REMEMBER TO WET IT AFTER, EVEN IF IT LOOKS OUT "Where there's smoke, there is fire."

Leaves are simple to burn.. Make a pile, get a lighter- light lighter and stick flame to leaves.

-Daniel

 

[muddyhorse]

around here a lot of people rake the leaves in to the drainage ditch in front of the house then set it on fire, we don't burn leaves I just let them do their thing. If you mulch them with the lawn mower be very careful. last year my dad was doing that and the leaves built up under the engine and caught fire, ruined the mower.

 

[redhen]

Whatever you do... always have a water hose handy in case it gets out of hand..

 

[Cindiloohoo]

I burn off my whole yard sometimes when I don't want to rake it. Just light a couple leaves, and follow the fire with a hose. When you don't pile it up, good sturdy work boots can control the little patches that flame up away from the controlled burn. Just stay out there with it, and even if it looks like it is out...wet it down anyway for safety's sake before you leave it. The leftover ash is good for the soil. Or, you could just leave it and let them compost naturally.

 

[KimberlyJ]

Why would anyone want to burn up all their chicken toys??? I throw a pile into the run every Sunday. Rake out the little bit that's left on Saturday and rake in a new pile. Two weeks ago I left the old pile just outside the run because it was raining. Later in the week when I raked it away there were WORMS underneath it. The girls were in heaven!!

 

[Mattemma]

I mulch mine with the mower too,so thanks for the heads up on the fire risk! I put all my leaves in the flower beds mulched or not. If I had to burn them I might try a metal 55 gallon drum, or a fire pit with so metal screen over to prevent to much fly-aways.

I throw mine in the chicken run too.

 

[Moabite]

Burning leaves usually ends up with lots of smoke and they don't burn too well either. Better to compost them. Last year I just dumped all the leaves on the garden. By spring they hadn't broke down to well so added fish emulsion fertilizer and a wheel barrow full of coffee grounds to it and hoed it over into a big pile. With in days the pile was over 100 degrees and in about two weeks it was black rich compost. Whether you have sand or clay soil, compost will improve it. Turning mulch is a little bit of work, but not as much as trying to burn leaves.

Burning weeds however is a good thing as it reduces the amount of seeds.

 

[Spookwriter]

I'm not into the burning leaves things.

As said, great chicken toys. Compost pile. And mow into the yard.