[Gurder]

Well I've got my eye on all the leaves littering the school area of the nature reserve, which the group want clearing!
I'm guessing that it will make for good mulch on my veg patch?
Does anything need doing to it or can I just bag it up and use as needed?

[Eristic]

It would be best if they are composted first but they could be dug in if you still have some drench digging to do.

[Gurder]

some drench digging to do.

:?

Please explain drench digging

[Eristic]

drench digging

It's what you get when the spil chequer donut wok.

Trench digging is what I should have said. PS. Never type with won hand and drink tee with other.

[Mrs.Veg]

Make a round container with chicken wire, fill with the loose leaves and then leave until rotted down into a leaf mould.  Then you can use as a mulch.  (avoid leaves with a long stalk attached, eg sycamore coz the stalks don't rot down).  Hope this helps! (good old hubby, he's just told me what to write!)  

[muntjac]

use the stalky ones as well keeps the cats off pooing in it    

[Gurder]

I'll have to get some chicken wire then,
I intend to use bits of brambles to keep Roxy (mums cat) off my patch, squat on that  

[shaun]

get a bulk builders bag mate fill with leaves tie the 4 loops together and forget about it for 12 months

[Gurder]

ohh got some of them, but they is full of soil from last years garden makeover

[Trillium]

Even dry leaves will mat up too thickly if applied as mulch and hoard any water. I either look for ones that are shredded, borrow my mum's shredder and run them through, or dump them on the ground and run the mower over them a number of times - but they must be dry for the mower. It's easier than composting, and by next year they're humus.