rosegal, It depends on what you are trying to grow in the bed. If its vegetables or something annual that you will transplant in, the mat formed by the unshredded leaves will still retain moisture and break down to feed your plants. Or if its seeds the mat can be parted in rows for planting. The leaves should be effective in limiting weed growth where they cover the soil. You could also create a leaf-mold bin, a big pile of leaves (potentially contained by wood or wire) that you leave for a couple years to turn into beautiful and nutrient rich planting material. If you have tons of leaves you could get a big leaf shredder/chipper. I got one from Lowes once I figured out that noone else in town wants to keep their leaves. Its more work, but it makes really nice fluffy leave mulch for around my roses and to cover my beds for next year. As for the bad bugs, I would expect that the additional organic matter, stabler soil temperatures, and more constant moisture in your newly leaf-mulched beds will help your plants withstand most bad bug assaults. Remaining bad bug problems will be dealt with by the other wildlife that moves into the more hospitable leaf-mulched environment. Just my thoughts on leaves. Hope it helps. -Kyle

Lee Valley used to have the hardware for this type of bins. Check some of the box stores cabinet hardware areas for what you need. I did find this site that you can look at the pictures to see if they are similar to what you want. You may also find a design by going to your local book store and checking out the do it yourself woodworking books. Look not only in kitchen but gardening as some of the designs for tilting soil bins could be adapted. Here is a link that might be useful: pictures of tilt out bins

I also have the same problem with FE Series "Double Pink" I didnt bring it up because I didnt want to confuse anyone. I bought the Double pink with a few blooms on it and didnt have an excuse why it wasnt blooming. I went to FE website and noticed the Double Pink is no longer offered and neither is Red Sensation. Their Red Hydrangea is simply called "Red" now. Seems both Red Sensation & Double Pink have been discontinued. I feel like a test dummy...lol...leaves a bad taste in my mouth to ever buy a FE Hydrangea again. I dont want to spend years again waiting for a hydrangea to bloom, just to find out it was a dud. They have months left at best in my yard if they dont produce here soon and my money is on they wont. I have 5 Hydrangeas in pots I winterize already and dont want more in pots. I bought them to be planted in my yard...lol... Thank you for bringing it to my attention that it was a new cultivar and prompted me to check their website. I would never buy a FE Hydrangea unless it was in bloom to prove what it is. Along with checking on the web that others in colder climates have had success with that particular one. I have multiple years success with FE Series: FE Original, Blue Heaven, Peppermint & Together. Summer lace I bought last year and seems to have proven to be worthy also. Rebloomed last year and has put buds on new growth this year also. I see FE has many new exciting Hydrangeas I didnt know they offered now, but I wont be their test dummy again. It's a shame they apparently rushed hydrangeas to market that werent proven and I wont take that chance again.

Are you open to thinking a little outside the box? Friends of mine keep their recycling in trash cans that have lids and a foot pedal to open the lid. Two of them are fairly small and are tucked under the kitchen table and the other one is larger and sits in their mudroom. My cousin has hooks hanging on the stairwell of their cellar stairs. They sort the glass, plastic and metal into plastic bags and hang them on the hooks. (These are high enough so that they don't block the stairway and so that the dogs can't get at them.) Newspapers go in a wooden box that her husband built, right next to the fireplace. They have a gadget that rolls the newspapers into logs to burn in the fireplace. I have a tall plastic trashcan in my study for all the paper recycling because that's where I sort the mail and read the newspaper and magazines. With the recycle "bin" right there, I don't have to remember to take the paper recycling anywhere; the recycle can sits right next to the trash can. I line it with a paper grocery bag which is what my town wants us to use for paper recycling. Both cans are tucked out of sight between my desk and the wall. I have two plastic totes with handles that tuck away in a corner of my kitchen (my apartment has no other place to put recycling). They are taller and narrower than most recycling bins, so they take up less floor space. One is for metal, the other for glass and plastic (how the town wants us to sort things). I carry them out and put the contents in the official recycling bins that are shared by all the tenants on recycling pick-up day. My experience with most recycling "systems" is that there is not enough room in the bins for at least one type of recycling. They clearly assume that you have the same amount of glass, plastic and metal recycling. Sometimes the lids are cumbersome. Can you look around your home for other small spaces to put some of the recycling? Or look for any attractive containers that are the size you need? Don't lock yourself into things that are labeled as recycling bins.