You could use the builders' bags instead of a wire enclosure but they're very big. They wouldn't need drainage holes as the weave is permeable, and the leaves need to stay pretty wet anyway. A chicken wire box is the standard method.
Actually I have general garden compost to which i add around half the leaves and various hidden piles of twigs and leaves to which I add leaves for wildlife so around half goes in the compost.
Last autumn, I collected up what leaves I could, and they're still moulding - slowly - in bags. We have a decorative apple tree (blossom, not fruit) which has been dropping leaves all summer (it's currently getting a hard prune, as it hasn't flowered for two years) and once already I used a leaf sucker which shredded the leaves into tiny pieces, which went onto the normal compost pile. I'm waiting in hope that we get enough consecutive dry days for me to do it again. Or else, they'll just have to disappear into the garden.
Thanks again for your responses; I'm now considering the option of buying a cordless leaf blower, if such a thing exists. Not petrol powered, but cordless electric. I have a corded electric one but the effort of unrolling then heaving all that cable around the garden is just too much to bear.
I'll start that other thread about the Achillea right this minute.
Golarne, that was interesting. Monty specifically said it could be a good idea to gather the leaves damp! I wonder if that would clog up the leaf sucker?
Jennifer10 the link above recommends putting photinia leaves (shredded, if possible) into the compost bin because they are so slow to break down in a leaf pit.
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I should start a new thread for that one Des.
You could use the builders' bags instead of a wire enclosure but they're very big. They wouldn't need drainage holes as the weave is permeable, and the leaves need to stay pretty wet anyway. A chicken wire box is the standard method.
No I didn't know that greenfingers Steve, thanks for pointing it out.
I am a bit of a gung ho gardner and just do things and see what happens. It usually works out.
Actually I have general garden compost to which i add around half the leaves and various hidden piles of twigs and leaves to which I add leaves for wildlife so around half goes in the compost.
Last autumn, I collected up what leaves I could, and they're still moulding - slowly - in bags. We have a decorative apple tree (blossom, not fruit) which has been dropping leaves all summer (it's currently getting a hard prune, as it hasn't flowered for two years) and once already I used a leaf sucker which shredded the leaves into tiny pieces, which went onto the normal compost pile. I'm waiting in hope that we get enough consecutive dry days for me to do it again. Or else, they'll just have to disappear into the garden.
I just saw this which may be helpful. There's also a link to a video which is pretty clear.
http://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/features/techniques/leaves-to-use-for-leaf-mould/5648.html?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Which leaves to use for leaf mould&utm_campaign=GW weekly newsletter 8/10/2015
Sorry, I don't know why the link didn't work!
We put leaves in a chicken wire enclosure that's about a metre diameter, though last year we needed to use a builders sack too.
Thanks again for your responses; I'm now considering the option of buying a cordless leaf blower, if such a thing exists. Not petrol powered, but cordless electric. I have a corded electric one but the effort of unrolling then heaving all that cable around the garden is just too much to bear.
I'll start that other thread about the Achillea right this minute.
What about photinia red robin leaves, that I get falling from next door? they don't seem to rot away at all.
Golarne, that was interesting. Monty specifically said it could be a good idea to gather the leaves damp! I wonder if that would clog up the leaf sucker?
http://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/features/techniques/leaves-to-use-for-leaf-mould/5648.html?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Which%20leaves%20to%20use%20for%20leaf%20mould&utm_campaign=GW%20weekly%20newsletter%208%2F10%2F2015
I've sorted the link out
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thank you Dove! I couldn't work out how to fix it
Jennifer10 the link above recommends putting photinia leaves (shredded, if possible) into the compost bin because they are so slow to break down in a leaf pit.