MUDLARKS

Leaf Bin

Collecting autumn leaf litter on-site provides, after a few months decomposition, a good material for adding a top dressing and as a major constituent of home produced seed compost.

As with all composting ensure that diseased material is disposed of separately otherwise infections will quickly spread throughout the garden. The leaves will need to be turned every month or so.

I have decided only to include deciduous leaves in this leaf bin. The holly leaves still pose a composting problem.

Four 46x48x1500 mm posts to provide the uprights
Four 30x30x1800 mm posts cut in half to produce the eight horizontals.
One roll of 900x6000mm wire mesh.
Wire pins.
Screw hooks.
Nails.
Wire.

To produce the left and right sides nail the horizontal 100mm and approximately 1000mm from the bottom. The gap at the bottom will enable the bin either to be set into the ground or, if placed on the surface, enable small mammals to nest or escape.

The front and back can be constructed in an identical fashion or the horizontals can be positioned so to overlap the side posts to give added strength.

Once the four sides were secured I wrapped and secured the wire mesh starting from post 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 using the wire pins.

The mesh was continued from post 1 to 4 but secured in place over the hooks screwed into post 4 on the right hand side. This will enable the front to be 'opened' by unhooking the mesh from the hooks. For a left-handed door secure the wire mesh from post 1 to 2 to 3 to 4.

Cut the mesh. You should be left with approximately 2.4m. Use about 1.9m to make a 'roof' from the left across to the right side and the remaining 0.5m to complete the top part of the back. The gap at the top of the front is used to fill the bin.

Use the wire to secure the pieces of mesh to each other.

Mike Donoghue September 2008

Front top view

View from back right

Final position of the bin concealed by conifers