If all you're wanting to do is create leafmould for use in 1/2 years time, you don't need to do anything other than cram the wet or damp leaves into bags, tie the tops, poke a couple of holes in the bottom and shove them somewhere out of sight. Its not essential to cut the leaves up at all, they'll still rot down, the only reason people suggest cutting them up small is they might turn into leafmould sooner in the bags. Or they might not, it might take just as long... personally, I'm far too lazy to run a mower over them on the grass and then try to collect up all the bits, or sort through the grass box trying to extract bits of leaves from grass cuttings, I really can't be bothered, I just used to put them in the bags whole.

The point about leaves rotting down is they do it differently from the stuff you put on your compost heap - nitrogen in the form of grass cuttings (or any other form) is not necessary.

Good advice from Bamboo. The leaves in the plastic bags will decompose by anaerobic bacteria and fungi but will take longer. I would recommend staying off your lawn as much as possible as you will only compact the soil which will encourage moss and will also look unsightly this time of year.

Thanks guys, that will make the job much quicker and easier. I'll be into it this afternoon.
And I'll be able to keep off the lawn.

Before I read the above repies I asked OH, who does the mowing job every year. He said its OK but put the mower on the highest cut and spread the leaves out on the grass very thinly. They do rot down more quickly when chopped up.

Thanks S, I'm hoping to have my leaf vac mended soon. If impossible I may try the mower elsewhere

Well I'm confused - steragram, are you saying to spread the leaves out then mow over them, and leave them on the lawn? Or in order to make leafmould with them separately by collecting them all up or using what's in the grass bag, in which case,there'll be grass clippings in with the chopped up leaves?

Inevitably there are a few grass clippings mixed in, but with the mower on the highest cut it misses most of them. No the leaves aren't left on the lawn, they are collected in the grass box. If they are tipped into a container, barrow etc it doesn't entail too many trips to the composting site. (especially if its me that's carting them, and not OH, who gets on with the mowing) I don't see a problem with a few grass cuttings mixed in with the leaves though - I use rotted mowings for compost anyway, if only for a soil improver. We've been doing this for a number of years with no problems. When there are a great many I sometimes just sweep them together on the paths and they get mown there - just need a bit of a sweep afterwards to tidy up the bits.

I just stuff the leaves into a huge thick black trash bag. After a week or so, I'll knead the bags, walk on them and squish them around (without tearing). This will break down the leaves inside the bags without dragging out the lawn mower or having to rake up the mess again.

Anaerobic digestion happens without oxygen so there is no need to poke holes into the bags. Just work the bags every couple weeks or so. Just be sure to use only the thick tough trash bags, not the wimpy kind.

If you've never seen the blog below, Hank, you should read it - written by a member here way back in 2009 I think

http://www.growsonyou.com/spritzhenry/blog/6696-a-recipe-for-black-gold

The 'black gold' referred to is leaf mould, and how to make it...

Of course everybody and their cousin has a recipe for "black gold." I just gave you mine because it works and you were already half way home. Good Luck.

Checking that blog as we "speak", thanks B.

Each to his own...