Hi everyone! I’ve had a lot of comments in my last couple of videos from you all saying things like “I hope you’re saving up all those leaves you’re collecting and making compost”! Well, the answer to that was “no”! I’m ashamed to admit that but I never had a place to store them that looked tidy and out of the way.
So that got me thinking about what I could do to start saving my leaves and make what is definitely “Garden Gold” … leaves that can, over time, be stored and turned into beautiful compost.
So that’s what I’m doing today … making a little compost area behind my cabin and I’ve bought a pack of 5 large garden waste bags from Amazon (I’ll put the link down below). I measured the available area and chose bags which should fit snuggly into that area. Once I fill the first bag up to the top, drench it with a full watering can of water, I’ll add the second bag, and so on.
It might take 6 months to a year for the leaves to rot down into compost, but they’ll be out of the way and won’t bother me (I hate things looking untidy). Then at the end of next summer, I can empty the compost onto my borders and I’ll have empty bags again, in time for the next Autumn when I can start filling them up all over again.
In case you don’t watch the very end of today’s video, I added a recap that evening, because when Richard reviewed the video he told me he doubted that the bags were waterproof and the water was going to just sit at the bottom of the bags, so I did go out again and made a lot of slits in the bottom of the bag so now the water can definitely drain right out.
Here’s a link to the bags I bought from Amazon:
JUMBO Garden Waste Bags 272 Litre – PREMIUM GRADE – Industrial Fabric and Handles – Heavy Duty Garden/Green Waste Sacks (5 Bags) https://amzn.eu/d/4xWyLAW
They do come in different sizes but there are many different styles, shapes, makes and sizes on Amazon or from different online shops that might suit your spaces better.
If you’d like to join my Facebook page, also called The Enthusiastic Gardener, you can find it by clicking this link:
https://www.facebook.com/The-Enthusiastic-Gardener-104622541169305/
I am also on Instagram @the_enthusiastic_gardener
Have fun in your gardens!
Janette, The Enthusiastic Gardener
http://youtube.com/@TheEnthusiasticGardener
🎶🎶🎶
Music in this video:
Cinematic (Sting) by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/
& Easy Stroll by Track Tribe
Also from the YouTube Audio Music Library.
42 Comments
Hi Janette, thanks for the video. I’ve found that collecting leaves for leaf mulch makes it seem much less of a chore and I actually get excited about! I use hessian bags from EBay to store them but I’m sure your bags will work now that Richard has pointed out the design fault 😂. I would actually stab a few holes rounds the sides too. When I emptied mine out last month they were full of worms too. I don’t know how they get in there as the bags were stored on concrete, isn’t nature amazing! 😊
Hello Janette
🎈🎈🎈CONGRATULATIONS ON 5000 SUBSCRIBERS🎈🎈🎈
Great solution at last for your leaf problem. Have you considered a leaf blower/ collector to make things even easier for you? By next year you'll wish you had more leaves in them. They do mulch down to nearly nothing. Love to you all and enjoy the mild temperatures☕🍩💞
So glad you found a solution. You’re well on your way! Monty says to leave the ones that fall on the beds but pick up the ones on the lawn and put into bags (make holes) to make mulch. Lucky hubby watched your video 😉
Have a great week and happy collecting 😊
🍁 🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂☀️
Hii Janette … well done for picking up all those leaves … Im not sure if that will work though with no holes in for the water to drain out …. if you dont let the water drain out you will be left with a mushy mess 🙈….off to work now … thanks for the early video xx
Well done, free leaf mold you just can't beat it & your garden will love it. I'm so glad you're going to poke lots of holes in those bags Janette I was worried you were going to have a nasty mess 'til the end bit phew 😉 I just use heavy duty refuse sacks but I would poke lots & lots of holes not just the base of your bags, all over and then you will have lovely rich goodness next year x
I love leaf mulch ❤
Hi Janette, great idea with those bags. I tried a few years ago with garbage bags that I poked holes in, it worked but some bags are still stuck to the ground because weed roots grew into them. LOL. I blow leaves onto my beds and leave until spring what doesn't beeakdown I clean up and compost. It makes fall cleanup easier but more spring work. I have 3 rubbermaid barrels that I throw food scraps, leaves, grass clippings into. I may buy bags like your for leaves, great idea!
Hi from Missouri in the US. This is a great idea.
I love this solution . We small backyard gardeners will find this such helpful aide in using our yard waste keeping it tidy and it will fit anywhere ! New nourishing soil in a few months. Helpful hint about ensuring for water to be released!
Great solution Janette. That will definitely help with yard clean up. You could also mulch the leaves into the bag and they will breakdown faster.
You are sooo right that is brilliant!
Hi Janette! That bag is a great idea! I think I'll do the same. I do leave them in my gardens and hubby mows or we blow the rest of them in the woods. I will be ordering some bags!! Have a great week! 😊🍁🍂
That’s a good idea to make a compost, or leaf mold however you say it . See , I always learn something 😊
👋Janette,a great idea and using nature to your advantage🤗. I was so relieved when you brought out the leaf blower😂 it made the job a lot easier. The plants will love thier 🍁 gold next fall.Great catch Richard, slurs sounds like the perfect solution 🙌
Good morning! So nice to see your sweet, friendly face this morning! “Little and often.” Such great advice! That will be my mantra this season.💖 I live surrounded by woods on three sides. We also have 16 oak trees just in the yard. 😳 This will be my second year of using them to mulch the flowerbeds.
Very cute! We cannot leave fountains out in winter just too darn cold they will crack then we have to turn them i to flower pots. Its nice that i can enjoy urs in the video thank you!
Hey Janette, such a resourceful activity and it adds so much life to your garden! And it's FREE! It was fun hanging with you my friend!
Looks like a good plan, more drainage certainly can't hurt 😊 5000, good for you, happy to see you're getting more eyes on your channel.
Hi Janette, well timed video 🤗. I have been out and about the village collecting fallen leaves wherever I can🤣. Sad isn't it? But I do have heavy clay soil and the best mulch for that is leaf mould so since I don't get any leaves in my garden I have to steal them, collect them up in my shopping bags, throw them into my car and mulch them with the lawnmower. Love your solution, I'm happy you have a blower AND a Richard 🤣
Great job. You must be delighted to see your garden again.
Love your videos, Janette. I'd like to find some bags like that but I think I'll need some with zipper covers. I don't want the squirrels to bury their nuts in them. But, your Amazon link may be a good place to start.
Hi Janette making use of what you have is always great! I really like your hideaway place for your leaves ! It’s such a nice fit. I’m trying to find creative ways to cut down on expense so I can spend it on plants instead!😄💕🌴
Hi Janette, congratulations 5000 subscribers 🥳🎉. Great place to hide your bags of leaves aka garden gold. Glad you’ve solved your problem. Have a nice week 😍
Here’s a thought. Attach a tarp temporarily from the side of that building to the top of the fence to catch most of the leaves that are dropping in the corner garden. It may make clean up easier.
Good idea about the leaves
Hi Janette, congratulations on reaching 5000 subscribers!!Well deserved 😉.Glad you had a lovely day to collect all the leaves without too much trouble.Another fab video.Thankyou x
i’ve done this too ! i’ve swept all of the leaves into the bed and wet them down. I did this last year in bin bags and left them for about 8 months and the plants loved it
I had to chuckle when I saw where you stash stuff–I do the same, everything goes behind the garage. I finally had to do some clearing as it was getting kind of junky back there. Glad you are creating compost from all those leaves. The plants will love it. And do leave some in the beds to break down over winter. Another enjoyable video!
Hi Janette, how funny, I watched someone over the weekend doing the same thing but using hessian sacks!! What a brilliant idea to use all that natural goodness. Congratulations on getting to 5000 subscribers xx
You're going to have some great leaf mould there Janette. I learnt how do do it from watching Paul T and knew it was beneficial but watching Monty last week on Gardeners' World made me realise just how great it really is. I have a messy corner behind my shed and everything seems to get dumped there and you've inspired me to sort it out!
Good use of resources (even the yellow chair was holding the sack upright) and a great way to repurpose awkward places in the garden. I loved the leaves in slow motion at the beginning of the video.
Hi jeanette
Those bags are such a great idea and so is making use of that space. My husband built me a couple of compost bins out of an old shed he knocked down, and this autumn I was able to use my own wonderful compost for the very first time. I wondered if you could use one of those bags for plant waste next year. I just mix it in with cardboard and tea and coffee waste, add water, and it turned into brilliant compost after about 9 months. No more trips to the tip to take all my garden waste and free compost.
Golden Leaf Girl. Loved the start of the video. Great idea those strong sacks. I would be inclined to fill each sack with loose leaves to the top then start a new sack. That way when they rot down you will be able to drag each sack out. If you keep compressing it, when it rots it may be too heavy for you to move. Funny but it a real sense of achievement making your own compost. Happy autumn gardening my friend 🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂
Congratulations 5000 👏🎉🍾🍷🍂🍁🐝🐞🦋
I’m loving the throwing the leaves up and getting garden gold! Love that! That’s truly going to be great for the garden. Glad you have a solution. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Janette, first of all congratulations on 5000 subscribers. So exciting and well deserved. Loved the slow motion leaves falling. Great idea for all those beautiful leaves and such a perfect place to keep them behind the cabin. Glad to see the leaf blower made your job a bit easier. Your garden will be so happy in the Spring. Hope you have a great week. Bron xx
Well Janette … I did leave a comment and I don't have a clue as to what happened to it … I think that it has happened before … Sooo I am wondering what did I say …??? … Really it must not have been important because it vanished … oh well … if I do remember I will make another comment … Hugs
I'm getting ready to collect my leaves to put into my compost. I was going to get me a few of the bags like you have, but then I thought, "I'm 60 yrs old & can only carry so much at a time. I think I'll just use this collapsible dirty clothes holder that I have." LOL And it WORKS!!! Of course, mine is going directly into a compost. If I was setting up a system like yours, I think you definitely made the right call. 🙂
Great idea! Congratulations on 5000 subscribers!
Soil improvements, my favorite topic! Here it is not only beneficial, it is absoluttely necessary to be able to grow anything. Where I have usable leafs for mulching, I just cover them in bark mulch. Out of site out of mind as you said. They will benefit the soil in due time.😀👍
5:10 Your yellow chair is such a bright pop of color that makes your garden look like it is full of sunshine 🙂 -Cara
I just love your cheery videos and was so pleased when yours came up in my feed this morning. The opening was priceless! CONGRATULATIONS on 5000 subscribers!🎈🎉 Well deserved as your videos are so delightful and inspirational. Saving, mulching and creating leaf mold are such satisfying uses of the fall bounty of leaves. 🍁🍂💛🧡🤎🍂🍁