Black or clear bags

[Moggle]

I keep eyeing up the leaves on the lawn outside my window at work for potential leafmould.

I've asked the site manager and he says it's okay to take them, only problem is I haven't got a supply of black plastic bags at work  :-\ I have clear ones for paper recycling, and I'm going to use them, as I'm determined to do it this afternoon.

Is it likely to cause a problem with the leaves decomposing? Would I be better to transfer them to a black bag, once I drop them at the lottie tomorrow?

Thanks all in advance

[Moggle]

[sandersj89]

Black bags are best, the fungus that does most of the work for you likes it dark!

Jerry

[aquilegia]

Also black bags get warmer as black absorbs sunlight (?!) and therefore heat.

I use old compost bags and grow bags turned inside out for mine.

[Mrs Ava]

So what about when you put them in an open chicken wire pen?  Just curious.

[windygale]

Hi Moggle,with refs to black or clear bags, in a well known gardening manual it said leaf mould takes longer to brake down than vegetable matter, fungi rather than bacteria, find an unused corner with plenty of light so the heap cant be undisturbed for two years.
I think that its up to you what colour you use (black hold heat in) dont forget to place water in the bags as this will help the leaves to brake down and to fill the bags up full(no air pockets)
Later
windy

[sandersj89]

So what about when you put them in an open chicken wire pen?  Just curious.

I think, may be wrong, you will find the leaves on the outside/top of the pile take longer to break down. If you were to dig into the pile you will find the leaves are further along in the mould process.

This could also be down to the heat of the pile as well as the lack of light I guess. they talked about this on gardeners question time recently and they said black bags.

Jerry

[derbex]

I do the chicken wire thing, I found the bags a pain as you're supposed to spear them with a fork to let air in -after a year there was no bottom in them, either rotted or eaten.

The top and sides of the chicken wire don't do so well, mainly because they dry out I think. It would be ok if you turned it, but I couldn't be bothered, I either use them as they are or they go to form the bottom few inches for next year.

I found that the stuff in the middle broke down better than the leaves in the bags, so you pays your money & takes your choice.

Jeremy

[Kerry]

i was interested in this thread, indeed almost posted the same question yesterday myself.
gathered 3 black bin bags full of neighbours leaves yesteday, watered well with the hose and today moved them to behind the outhouse. however my neighbour was kind enough to gather 1 bag for me the previous day, which he placed in a normal pedal bin bag-the white/see through kind. this was also watered and placed in the same place as the others.

so i shall see what happens!!

[windygale]

Hi Jerry,(sandersJ69) with refs to your text that the outside of compost - leaves take's longer to breakdown slower,this happens to any compost heap which has no covers on the sides or top of the chicken wire bin's or wooden sided bin's, hence the reason of turning and as we all know the bigger the heap the more heat the faster it break's down,with plastic bags they split, and unless you place a large amount of bags on top or together- one or two will not generate the heat to allow it to breakdown fast and the light (i think) does not realy come it to it = MASS X HEAT X TIME = GOOD COMPOST
later
windy

[derbex]

I believe that for breaking down leaves you don't want a hot heap -it's a different process taking place to composting- which is one reason that you don't bung them in with the rest of the compost.


To quote the HDRA

Autumn leaves are rotted down mainly by the slow, cool action of fungi - rather than the quicker acting bacteria that are responsible for composting. This is why autumn leaves in quantity are best recycled separately in a leafmould heap.

Jeremy

[Moggle]

Thanks all for your knowledgeable replies.

Turned out that I was going to the car for my gloves to pick up the leaves, and passed the site manager on his way over to me with 2 bags full of leaves. Couldn't fit more than 3 bags in the boot, so I decided to leave the clear bags until another day.  :)