Hi, I am using all the fallen leaves to make leafmould.I have put them into black sacks. Any tips will help.?

Answer 1

You don't need to pay out for special composting bags. Simply fill the black plastic bags with leaves, tie up the tops then stab them a few times with your garden fork. Pile them all together out of the way in a corner of the garden somewhere.

You can either open them up next autumn and mix them in with your compost to rot down some more, or you can leave them for two years by which time they will be rotted down to a lovely leaf mould.
However if they are oak leaves this process will take a little longer.

Answer 2

You need a reasonably good air circulation and worms, to do a swift and proper job.

Composting bags, with a filter system and aeration in the bottom, are quite cheap, just a fiver, or so.

Throw in your leaves and a few dozen worms, dug from your garden, Lay some freshly cut green stuff on top and just let her go!

The fluids, leached from the compost, are VERY good fertiliser, so, a tray to catch them, for distribution over the garden, is a good idea.

Do not forget that the worms will thrive and multiply, so don't forget to return them to the garden!

Answer 3

Gardengirl just gave you the advice I saw 5 minutes ago on HGTV. The only difference was Paul James on "Gardening by the Yard" used a screwdriver for punching lots of holes in the bag, he also said to make sure it gets plenty of circulation and that it should have the leaf mold by spring.

Everyone has their own idea about how and why?
the link below is what the experts say.
Cornell University Composting
Science and Engineering
http://compost.css.cornell.edu/invertebrates.html

Answer 4

First of all, did you shred them? Take a lawn mower w/bagger, set wheels as high as possible and run over leaves to shred. Once in the bags, seal off the tops and poke a few holes in the bottom with a pen or pencil for drainage and then place the bags on the north or east side of your building until spring. By then you should have leaf mold to till into your soil.

Answer 5

I would say not to but them in bags. The good bacteria which breaks down the leaves need oxygen and I recommend you to turn the pile of leaves to add more oxygen. By leaving them in a bag, you are not allowing air circulation. I make my leaf mold by simply digging a new bed and coved the bed with all the leaves. By spring, the soil in the new bed will have broken down into fine soil and the leaves will have composted.

Answer 6

Leaves are broken down by fungi, rather than bacteria. There is no need to start adding worms.
The most important thing is that the leaves are wet when added to the bags. Make a few air holes, as fungi respire as well. Tie the tops and put the bags somewhere shady. Ideally there should be a good mixture of different types of leaves.
The leaves should have broken down in 1-2 years.

Answer 7

Gardengirl is correct.
Forget about knocking pallets together to make frames etc. most of us in Ireland and GB don't have the garden space anymore. Place leaves in black bin-liner, spray with water and occasionally moisten. Prick bag with fork or whatever, sit back for 1 to 2 years and enjoy the leaf-mould. PS worms are not required.

Answer 8

No need to shred them but it helps

pack bags
give a good soaking of water and leave outdoors

the smell in the spring will be bad but the product will be a benefit

leafmould is not compost but it is certainly organic matter and will greatly help your soil

this process is quick and generally takes less than 6 months

unit

Answer 9

The others have given you some good ides. I find beech and chestnut the hardest to break down. Mainly I use three pallets nailed together at the corners, (for three sides of the square) and a loose one for the front....then pile the leaves and keep turning every few months. My dad used something called Actabacta which he sprinkled on. I suppose it meant activate your bacteria. Good luck

Answer 10

When I was a lad, my Dad would get me to rake up all the leaves into a heap, then cover the heap with a thin layer of soil. Come Springtime, I'd dig furrows in the vegetable garden and semi-fill them with the leafmould, after which I'd replace the soil on top. We always grew excellent vegetables.