Collecting and storing Leaves for Leaf Mould

[Dynamite]

What’s the best method of storing leaves to create leaf mould?

In plastic bin bags
In a mesh chicken wire pen
In a bare pile
In a wheelie bin
Add leaves to your compost bin

Regards........Rob

[snakeshack]

I drive round in my car and pick up the ones my local council has helpfully bagged up for me,I then empty them out into a chicken wire cage and leave to decompose

[Bren In Pots]

I've used both a wire cage and bags and found the leaves in the bags break down quicker but its easier to fill the cage.

[Cadalot]

A mixture of Bags



Home made cage



Bread Tray Base Temporary Cage. Someone dumped a whole load of these in the access road to the construction site access road and the contractor was going to get them taken to the dump so we helped him solve the problem.

[Greenleaves]

Mine are in bags and kept out of the sun as they become brittle. Like Bren I find bags better and quicker.

[Jimny14]

I use a wire cage, basically 3 stakes with chicken wire round to about 4'. It gives me enough space to store the leaves that fall on and around our house. Come next year I pull the newest leaves to one side on the top and dig out the rotted down leaves. Any bits still not broken down go back on.

[bario1]

Bin bags work great but don't look nice on the plot. I've used a builder's bulk bag before with good results, but they eventually break down and become messy. Last year I made a proper bin from 4 pallets, and lined it with chicken wire... looks great on the plot, haven't emptied it yet to see the results.

[KevinM67]

I put the lawnmower over them and put them directly on the beds (along with the grass clippings).
Next Spring I just plant through them.

Saves on space and covers a bare bed over winter.

Last years have broken down and are non-existent already.

[Dynamite]

Thanks everyone. If they are in a cage, would you weigh them down and compress them tight?

Regards............Rob

[Jimny14]

My cage is against a wall in a fairly sheltered corner so tend not to have much wind problem but I do squish them down quite tight when putting them in and make sure they're wet (not a massive problem in Lancaster). I don't bother weighing them down long term and don't have any problems.

[Dynamite]

I might build a 5ft tall and 2ft square thing out of wood and pop them in the top so they rot down to the bottom Will put air holes in. What do you think?

Regards......Rob

[Billy's lad]

if they are cut with the lawnmower and then kept in bags how long before I can use them I have just purchased another greenhouse and thought of putting a layer on the bottom of the beds ?

[Jimny14]

Rob, I'd consider making it a bit shorter and wider if possible so more surface area for worms etc and also for water from rain to keep it all moist. However if you have wood to easily make it that size without much cutting etc I'm sure it would still work.
Billy's lad, I've left leaf mould for a year in my cage and some of it was good but some went back in to rot down further, I think it rots down quicker in bags but I've never checked it in less than a year. Just open one up in nine months and have a look I guess.

[Penellype]

if they are cut with the lawnmower and then kept in bags how long before I can use them I have just purchased another greenhouse and thought of putting a layer on the bottom of the beds ?

Leaf mould doesn't contain many nutrients and would probably be better used as a mulch rather than putting it at the bottom of the beds. You can put it down straight away as a mulch.

[Billy's lad]

Ok I will use it to mulch the beds outside