Sycamore leaf-mouldSaw a post of 2010 re.

[Matt Rose]

Further to a post of 2010 Re. Sycamore leaf-mould:

I've got a lot of 2 & 3 year-old majority-Sycamore leaf-mould. Was thinking of using to top-dress & seed after scarifying & aerating turf on very light but seriously compacted soil.
Before doing I read Bob Flowerdew's "Complete book of companion gardening" and found in reference to Sycamore, p.119... "Very little will germinate where the leaves decay."
Does anyone have a second opinion?

[Carolyn]

I have not found this to be true. My leafmould must be about 50% sycamore and it is fine to use - the leaves just take a bit longer than, say, oak or beech, to break down.

[Maggi Young]

As others have reported in that thread  ( http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=5898.0  )  well rotted sycamore leaves  can make  good  mulch and compost.
 I believe Bob Flowerdew's comments refer to the  length  of time  whole sycamore leaves can take to break down  and therefore they can make a dense cover under trees which deter growth there. This is not a problem with well -rotted  leaves, or those which have been shredded beforehand to enable faster rotting down.