Bags of leaves 2011????

[Nicos]

Just thought peeps might like to keep a tally on how many bags of leaves they've collected this year?
You can amend your post the more you collect!
It'd be interesting to see who collects the most 'free' compost .

(I keep saying I'm going to collect loads and loads and then end up with about 8 black bin bags. Then in the Spring I could kick myself for not collecting more)

Remember that they compost quicker if they're already wet/damp and black plastic bags need holes in the bottom to allow any gunky liquid to come out.

Let's see how you do peeps!

[Bren In Pots]

I'd have liked to join in with this but mine go in a wire bin.

[Aberdeenplotter]

I collect mine in tonne bags and then they get mixed in with whatevers in the compost bins and then left to compost down. Dunno how many black bags there would be to a tonne bag though.

[Nicos]

I'm thinking of doing a couple of 1m cubic composts too!
....it's really a record so you can compare this years collection to future years.

[binley100]

6 and a half so far .......but a gardening firm drops piles of leaves at the lottie for us to help ourselves

[Florence Fennel]

We have a little copse of trees opposite my office. I was called a mad woman for collecting them last year. This year we have a "Be Green" campaign, so I'm going to ask why the Gardening Dept don't collect them up. Sorry, went off at a bit of a tangent then, not like me. I've only got one so far, but there's plenty of time yet.

[binley100]

My trees at home have hardly shed any leaves yet .......

[buzzingtalk]

None so far - what's the best way to store them? Do you just fill a binbag? How long do you leave it for etc. I don't have any trees but there are convenient piles of leaves all on the sides of the roads at the minute that won't take a minute to scoop up

[binley100]

Mine are stored in binbags .....tied up with some drainage holes in the bottom . If the leaves re very dry I give them a sprinkle of water before they are tied up and there they stay for a year and then I mix them in with my compost .

[Two_Sheds]

what's the best way to store them? Do you just fill a binbag?

I get mine from the cycle lanes (old railway line), one a day on the back of my bike. I use an old dustpan brush to scoop them up: in a black sack. Once home, the leaves get watered, tie the back up, pierce a couple of holes in the sack then leave them alone for 6-18 months.

If you mix in some grass clippings they rot quicker.

I use it (leafmould) in spring, mixed in with my potting compost to stretch it out. I think I've got about 30 bags under my bramble hedge so far (leaves, couch & bindweed)

[perkin]

I just got myself a wire container for £5 on Ebay so will be leaf collecting for the first time. I'm already eyeing up next door's lawn which is simply covered in ash tree leaves.

[Glutton4...]

Two winters back I collected about 30 black bin-bag sacks!

Last winter, due to my Op. I didn't collect any, but I still haven't used the above stash.

This year I have about four, so far. The best garden to collect them from unfortunately has a lot of dog mess, so I don't get as many as I could, as I'm not prepared to fiddle through it!

I think I'll make a wire cage for them this year.

[Scarlet]

Well, I'm trying to save two conker trees that are in my garden! the leaf minor moth has infected both - there is not much hope really, but I have been burning every one I can pick up.

The leaf miner moth is spreading at a rate of around 40km (25 miles) a year. What most concerns scientists is that there is no natural predator. The RHS advises gardeners to collect and burn all the fallen leaves at the end of autumn to help to contain the outbreak because the moth pupae overwinter in the piles.

Spread of alien moth puts Britain's conker trees at risk - Nature, Environment - The Independent

[Glutton4...]

That's awful, Scarlet.

Collected another four this morning - I'll ache tomorrow. That brings my tally to eight so far.

[Nicos]

Yikes- Scarlet- I didn't know about that!!!!

Best to avoid the horse chestnut leaves then!?

Here -have a look at this- it's really widespread!

Forest Research - Horse chestnut leaf miner - Cameraria ohridella