By Piers66
Surrey,
United Kingdom 
Advice on containers for making leaf mould please.
I have one of those giant sacks that builders use to transport sand, etc., I would guess a bit bigger than 1m cubed, and also a wooden crate of the kind used to carry bricks. The crate has large gaps in the sides and base, but would keep the contents off the ground.
Are these suitable for making leaf mould?
I understand that leaf mould is largely the result of fungal activity, so do the leaves need to be in contact with the soil to allow worms to get at them?
If I use the large sack, it would be largely waterproof (I could fold over the top to keep too much rain out). Is this a good / bad thing?
Any advice gratefully received.
Thanks,
Piers.
7 Mar, 2019
Answers
I agree, use the crate. Composting requires lots of oxygen and I don't think the sack is adequate, but the crate sounds alright.
7 Mar, 2019
You can make brilliant leaf mould using binliners, you just need somewhere to stand them out of the way. Just fill up a binliner with damp or wet leaves (wet them if they're dry), tie the top shut, poke a few holes in the bottom and stack them somewhere out of the way. Preferably not on paving or concrete because you can get run off from the bags which may stain...
7 Mar, 2019
I also do that bamboo and works brilliantly, unless ivy finds a way in then they grow and use it all up !!
7 Mar, 2019
Yes and yes. In the past I used to use open wooden bins until they eventually rotted away and now use builders bulk bags. Both have worked very successfully for me. Leave the top open so that rain can keep the leaves wetted, excess water will drain away through the seams at the base of the bag.
7 Mar, 2019
I would line the crate with chicken wire so that the leaves don't 'escape' and just fill it with leaves and leave it open. They need moisture to help the decomposing process. You could mix in a small amount of soil to inoculate them with fungi, but if swept up from the ground they will have fungal spores on it any way.
The sack needs to be free draining or you will end up with a smelly sour 'soup' and again leave open to the elements.
7 Mar, 2019