Gather 'em up!

[Nicos]

Well the rain/hail has finally stopped , the wind has dropped, and the sun is out!
Perfect time to nip out and gather as many wet leaves as poss and store in plastic bags (preferably biodegradeable!!) with holes in the bottom until next year.
Free compost!!!
Should be worth having a chat with the neighbours for theirs too!
I wonder who will collect the most bags? ( won't be me - I'm sure! )

[dwrudd]

And I thought I was the sole madman who did this!

With the recent drop in temperatures, the leaves seem to have fallen all at once, Now really is the time to act,

Darren

[Waffler]

I only have 3 bin bags full so far. I put some on the compost, then OH wanted to know why the wheely bin was full of leaves. I explained that I couldn't put too many on the compost heap and wasn't sure how many bags would be a good idea to keep - especially given that I didn't get them all up and there are still more to come down, so plenty more bags full by my reckoning!

[angie loves veg]

you can never have enough in my opinion, last year I made about 7 bin bags... and of course now that I am using them I *wish* I had at least the same again!

So far this year? one dalek full and 4 bin bags so far.... let the leaves fall!

[annie trip]

Think I may win,tend to spend three months collecting all my leaves,am surrounded by trees. Have already filled two 2meter square 1meter high pens of the stuff and am on collection duty again tomorow. Keep telling myself it will be worth it in a years time!!

[jofanning]

Can I use normal black bin liners to compost leaves? I have to massive Black Poplar tree at the front of my house and the amount of leaves is unbelievable!! I had read about composting them and have seen some lovely big green bags in the gardening mag for that very reason but will good old council bags do? Do I need to add anything to get them going, have seen some of that stuff too in the mag or will just keeping them moist do the trick!

[Nicos]

I think any bag will do, but the leaves must be wet and the bag got holes in the bottom, and fasten the top
. You can pee in it too if it takes your fancy!!!
I like to try and get a bit of soil in mine to add microbes, but I've no idea if other people do that.

[Waffler]

Do people generally find their leaves are leaf mould in one year; I heard you should leave them 2 years, but frankly that sounds a bit like a pain, as next year I would have to fill a load more bags and not muddle them up with this years.

[angie loves veg]

good old bin bags are just the job...... as said before, make sure that the leaves are damp, that there are a couple of holes at the bottom of the bag. I don't use accelerators, but there is no reason why not. stack somewhere out-of-the-way (behind the shed?)

[angie loves veg]

Do people generally find their leaves are leaf mould in one year; I heard you should leave them 2 years, but frankly that sounds a bit like a pain, as next year I would have to fill a load more bags and not muddle them up with this years.

depends on the leaves - most seem to rot down after a year.. others may tell you which leaves take longer. If 'worried', shred them / mow over them first to cut them up a bit - this should ensure that one year is plenty

[Digger-07]

A friend of mine phones the council to ask when they are going to clear the leaves from his street. The day before he goes out and collects as many as he can - at least 50 bags at the last count.

His idea is that the traffic helps break down the fibres and maked them rot quicker, his take about a year before he is using the leafmould.

I often wonder what the council make of the fool who complains about the leaves on a street that doesn't have any!

[beefy]

If your ground is dry enough gather them with a lawn mower and bag them up .Much more in the bag ,well chopped up and the extra grass really helps as well .And two jobs done at once.

[roitelet]

I am surrounded by trees and put the collected leaves in a large chicken wire container lined with and old tarpaulin and add a little Organic Activator to ensure that the large quantity become leaf mould in a year. Lovely stuff

[rustylady]

The leaves that fall onto the lawn are run over with the lawn mower when the grass is still growing, and added to the compost heap.

I do gather leaves and put them into black bin liners to rot down (holes made in sides and bottom so they don't get soggy.

However, be prepared! One large sack of leaves rots down into one very small amount of leaf mould. It smells gorgeous, though, and does wonders.

I think a wire enclosure or separate compost bin for leaves if you have a lot may be better. You can tread them down as they rot, lots better than having 20 black bin liners lined up somewhere

[Alice]

I gather the leaves from the grass with the lawnmower which has a collection bag. I used to put them in blag bin bags but this year I have a spare compost bin courtesy of the council. The leaves have always rotted down into mould in 1 year - except the beach leaves. They never seem to rot. I put them on my big compost heaps - the ones I leave for years - but I do get compost out of them eventually - well some every year.