Don’t forget this years leaf harvest for making leaf mould. Today I opened my bags from last year to add to the beds at home. 5 bin liners of leaves collected 12 months ago have broken down to a barrow full of mould.
Lovely dark crumbly leaf mould.
I collected them last year, put into black bin liners, poked a few holes in the bag and pushed a hose pipe into each bag until the leaves were soaked through.
These then got put in a dark corner and forgotten about, until today to use the results:
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y222/sandersj89/Leafmould1.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y222/sandersj89/Leafmould2.jpg)
Jerry
Lovely, I could just put that in a sandwich ;D
Thanks for reminder!!! I've got some tucked away at the back of garage, that looks lovely, Jerry, and don't forget pickle in sarnie MT.... :P Lottie ;D
I'm surrounded by Oak Trees and find that the leaves take two or maybe three years to rot down, when left on my compost heap, I shall have to try it your way.
Vony
Thanks for the reminder
MikeB
QuoteI made my leaf mould bin too tall now I can't get in it to inspect itÂ
silly Wardy ;D
Every year I ask the school next door if I can rake up their leaves. For nowt. Bags and bags of 'em. They think I'm crazy... but the effect of leaf mould on my soil reminds me I haven't totally lost it!
If anybody asks that at my school then I am afraid the answer is no - the leaves that fall off our trees are already booked. Also told people in my street that I would 'dispose' of their leaves for them and my in-laws have big gardens surrounded by trees. I am hoping for about 20 plus bags this year as I need a lot more soil and I will also use the bags as weed suppressors as the leaves rot down.
Oooooooo ::) Like that idea....maybe I could walk the streets round the village collecting leaves, stop everyone slipping on the ones on pavements and collect for my own bags...a win win for both myself and the community!!!!
My neighbour thinks i'm mad....Last year I was moaning about the leaves in our street and this year i'm collecting them and asked for his bag he raked up....
You are right, Wardy...BUT the nice local authority people do bag it all up and leave it for us, and for that alone I would forgive the dog poo and crisp packets, cos after a year or so it's really just the crisp packets that remain.
Yesterday collected 15 bags courtesy of Kingston Council, one from Richmond, and 3 from Brent - bags all different colours! Made me wish I had a lorry rather than a honda crv as I had to leave hundreds of bags sitting there before going to leaf heaven.
Be very careful of the street collected leaves with dog muck mixed in, the rotting down of the leaves generates no heat, and if worm cysts are present they can survive up to seven years in the soil and still infect you. So stay away from contaminated leaves as you have no idea who's dog muck you are dealing with, not everyone worms there dog, as I know to my cost.
Brian
I've developed a contaminated leaf checker. All you have to do is attach it to the exhaust of your car and have someone sitting in it revving the engine to maximum. Added bonus is, I'm selling for just £1 a unit.
You can only do one leaf every 3 minutes, but, eh! This is only the beta model.
How many does you want, folks?
Does that include a built in deodouriser Kenkew? ;D
Derekthefox :D