how to compost leaves quickly

Leave it to mature for a few weeks before using it. I am a sustainable focus gardener. In order to speed up the leaves’ decaying process, try grinding them up using a shredder or lawnmower. The leaves of all deciduous trees make good leaf mould, but some break down more quickly than others. The method you choose depends on the space you have available, and the time you want to devote to composting. Shred leaves and mix with grass clippings or another source with a high level of nitrogen. You’ll also need to make sure that your leaves have been shredded or mulched before you add them to your compost heap. If you end up with huge piles of leaves in your garden each year, don’t let them go to waste! Also, well-maintained vermicomposting bin usually has a pleasant, earthy smell. Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. You can check the fall street sweeping schedule and go the day before to collect extra leaves from the curb. Then, give it a turn every other day for the next 14 days. When you're gathering up leaves for your compost, avoid picking up leaves at the very bottom of curb piles, because they can contain oil and other residue from cars. Try spreading them out on your yard so the leaf carpet isn't more than 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) thick. If you have lots of conifers in your garden, then you’ll need to try to avoid including too many pine needles in your leaf compost. Many cities have their own composting programs and will use the leaves in the city or county compost piles. Plan to cover the compost pile with a plastic tarp, if you cannot construct a container. As leaves decay, they tend to break down and shrink in size, so an amount of leaves that looks huge at first may end up losing half its size over 6 months. Last Updated: October 14, 2020 They’ll probably be more than happy to let you cart off some of their manure. Ratios Leaves will decompose faster when nitrate-rich material is added to them. All compost bins, or heaps need a balance of materials that: are high in nitrogen, such as blood & bone or chook manure, contain carbon, such as dried leaves or shredded newspapers, and; contain both carbon & nitrogen, such as kitchen scraps, pea … Worm farms and traditional compost bins are the main two types of compost systems. Leaves can be shredded simply by running a mulching lawnmower over them. Oak leaves take longer to decompose than many other types of leaves. You can either collect these up for a hot compost heap, or dispose of them. By using our site, you agree to our. Some of the best leaves for composting are: On the other hand, the leaves that are lower in nitrogen and calcium that take longer to break down are: The first thing you need before composting your leaves are the leaves themselves. Try to avoid using a lot of leaves with a high wax content. There are several ways that you can use leaves to enrich, protect, and enhance your garden. The weed eater will chew your leaves up within a few minutes. It will need to be turned every few weeks, Ideally, turn it about four times over the course of the winter for compost that’s ready by the spring. Leave that out to avoid such pests. An earth base allows drainage and access to soil organisms, but if you have to compost on a hard surface, then add a spadeful of soil to the compost bin. Or, if you live near a livestock farm or ranch, talk to the owners. Make sure to always ask for permission from neighbors before you start raking leaves off of their lawn. Turning the compost pile allows the leaves to decompose uniformly and keeps a good mixture of oxygen throughout the pile. This will give you compost in a matter of weeks. The method you choose depends on the space you have available, and the time you want to devote to composting. If shredded they turn into compost or leaf mold much faster, and make mulch better mulch. Or maybe you just don’t have the time to be regularly turning a compost heap throughout the winter. This will affect the pH of your finished compost. Then repeat steps ABC. You want it to be a similar consistency to that of a damp sponge. If you want to make your garden plants thrive, … They are fast. Locate the pile where drainage is adequate; a shaded area will help keep the pile from drying out. Try asking neighbors that you see raking if you can bag up leaves or take their bags of weeds. Evergreen leaves and conifer needles take far longer to rot and should not be included in great quantities, and then only when chopped. In 2007 and 2008, Steve taught the Local Sustainable Agriculture Field Practicum at Stanford University. And what is the best thing to do with all those leaves once you’ve collected them? At the same time, they provide a good balance of nutrients to the pile. For best results, try to make your pile 4 or 5 feet on each dimension. If you want to make compost fast with leaves – you need to shred them. When you first start the pile, it will be loose and prone to blowing around the yard. Be sure to make the pile high because the leaves will … There are two ways to compost leaves. Don’t wait for them to finish. However, for the average gardener, leaf composting takes place in a cold heap over the winter months. When autumn comes, though, and leaves fall, the problem of leaf disposal arises. “Greens” are soft, young materials that decompose quickly, such as grass clippings, animal manure, non-greasy kitchen waste and most garden waste. I also like the idea of those reusable leaf bags both for carting pre shredded leaves to your shredder and storing the results. The leaf pile should be at least 4′ in diameter and 3′ in height. This article has been viewed 26,747 times. Alternatively, you can make a bin for your leaf mold out of chicken wire or a similar material. Be sure the pallets you get are clean, without any grease or any substances on them that could leach into your compost. Either material will allow oxygen to get to your compost. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. As mentioned earlier, leaves are high in carbon but low in nitrogen. No spam, notifications only about new products, updates. Use a leaf shredder Leaves can be uses much more conveniently in the garden if they are ground or shredded. The sheet will also reduce water evaporation and keep your heap moist, but it would still be worth giving your compost some water each time you lift the sheet to turn it. You may need to add a little bit of water occasionally. Not every ingredient in your pile will decompose at the same rate. Vermicompost is made with the help of worms. Place an 8-inch layer of leaves on the bottom of the compost bin. Include a layer of dirt between each foot of leaves. Many gardeners are familiar with compost. Creating The Pile – Shred Those Leaves! Leaves are considered “brown” (or dry) material for compost because the provide a high carbon source. Using a sweeper is much faster than hand raking, and a better picking-up job is done. Make sure that you mix everything thoroughly to prevent the leaves from clumping together. You can also add 1 cup (240 mL.) Don’t be afraid to harvest compost early. Mixing up the material and aerating it keeps it moist, w… Every Autumn/fall Read More In spring or fall when garden waste is plentiful, you can mix one big batch of compost and then start a second one while the first "cooks." Keep the pile moderately moist and turn it with a garden fork at least once per week. How to Compost Leaves. Most gardeners have a cold compost heap or bin. Here’s how to compost leaves quickly so that you can put them to good use in your garden as soon as possible. Fallen leaves, bark, twigs, fruit and branches all rot back into the soil, breaking down into the original nutrients the plant took up in the first place. Leaf compost, better known as leaf mold, supplies a soil amendment that improves soil texture, helps retain moisture, and provides a welcome environment for worms and beneficial soil microbes. Some include a little door near the bottom for easy compost harvesting. Kitchen waste is usually high in nitrates which provide a good balance for the carbon ‘brown’ factor that makes up leaves. Leaves are just one thing that might appear in your garden during the fall. Ideally, try to separate any diseased leaves when gathering them together. C. Add water after each layer to keep the heap moist but not wet. Although a pile of pure leaves will eventually break down, it breaks down much faster if it includes a source of nitrogen. If you're composting and getting ants and flies, then you probably have something sugary or some sort of meat in the pile. I used to work as the gardener for a large estate. Building a Fast Compost Station . Any successful compost pile will be comprised of 3 parts brown material to 1 part “green” (or living/active) material such as food scraps, grass clippings, and weeds.. Leaves are a unique and uniquely beneficial compost material for a few reasons. Leaving leaves to rot in a dedicated bin like this creates what is known as “leaf mold”. Smaller pieces of leaves break down more quickly. Many gardeners rake fall leaves onto perennial beds as a winter mulch. Check it every few days to make sure it hasn’t dried out. This is where the compost is turned frequently and added all at once per unit. Benefits of Leaf Compost and Leaf Mulch–And How to Compost Leaves Quickly. If my mention of the desired sponge-like texture has you scratching your head, perhaps it’s time to brush up on your composting basics? You can reach her at [email protected], Chanh is our Head of Medical Review. A compost always needs a four or five days to get going, but after that, it can be turned as often as every other day, depending on how quickly the compost is needed. Try not to overpack the leaves as you’ll want to be able to move the trimmer up and down safely. Pick up the leaves at the company’s location. All parts of the tree contain a compound called juglone. Keep the bag in a well-ventilated location for one to two years. If diseased leaves end up composting with healthy leaves, those pathogens will spread through the compost, and then into your garden the following year. Shredded sticks and other dried material like wood chips and corn stalks will help your compost develop quickly by aiding aeration but may not decompose completely themselves. If you need your finished compost sooner and don’t want to wait until the spring, then hot composting is the way to go. Composting is essentially the decomposition of plants. It involves dumping your vegetable and fruit peelings, coffee grounds and egg shells along with grass clippings and twigs and leaves. There are also many people who choose to make their own compost heaps. Easy ways to compost kitchen waste. Leaves will decompose into compost more quickly if they are shredded before being placed in a compost bin. Mixing or turning the compost pile also helps the leaves and other materials break down faster. Once you have four pallets, use one for the base and three around the sides and back in a U shape. Heat allows the compost process to work more quickly, which is why composting happens faster during warmer months. Even better, it's a free resource if you have deciduous trees that drop a lot of fall leaves. If you’re in the middle of a rainy spell, you may not need to water the compost pile for 3–4 weeks at a time. Smaller scraps have more surface area, which allows bacteria to break them down more quickly. Mix 1 part manure with 5 parts leaves. Compost enriches the nutrient content of garden soil and flower beds, and allows you to re-use food scraps and other organic items that would otherwise go to waste. Juglone is extremely toxic, not just to humans but also to other plants. Store your leaves in bags until you’ve got enough materials for a 3’x3’ heap. This is a special type of compost made solely from leaves, without the addition of any other organic materials. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Although compost is a great way to increase the organic content of soil, it doesn’t quite have the same nutritional value as a store-bought fertilizer. If you don't have room in your garden to build a compost pile of leaves, you could also rake them together and let them compost more or less where they've fallen. If you live in a city, most leaves that fall will be swept up with a street sweeper. The other issue with cold composting is that you end up with lots of large pieces left over in the compost when the process is completed, whereas hot compost looks like fine black humus (soil). If you have too many leaves to incorporate into the compost bin, you can simply compost the pile of leaves by itself. Collect leaves from the lawn using a rotary mower, as this not only shreds the leaves and hastens rotting but also adds grass clippings, so increasing the nutrient value of the leafmould. This is found in other nut trees too, but black walnuts have an especially high concentration. Play. A lawn sweeper is a good machine to use for collecting leaves. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 26,747 times. Leaf mold on its own is a useful gardening product and produces compost with a fine structure. Steve Masley has been designing and maintaining organic vegetable gardens in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 30 years. Leaves will decompose into compost more quickly if they are shredded before being placed in a compost bin. These leaves should never be added to your compost. Remember, the more leaves you have, the faster they’ll break down. If possible, cover your compost pile or bin with a tarp, a scrap of carpet wrapped in plastic or a plastic garbage bag stuffed with leaves or hay. Don’t be afraid to harvest compost early. Generally speaking, worm farms break down scraps quickly, whereas bins are better at breaking down acidic scraps (too many acidic scraps can actually kill worms) though work at a slower pace. How NOT To Compost Grass Clippings. He is a research physician at Oxford University Clinical Research Unit. When it comes to choosing how you will compost, it will largely depend on your personal situation. After accomplishing the program of level 1 sub-specialty in Pediatrics, he was awarded the Chevening Scholarship for his Master’s degree of Public Health in the University of Edinburgh in 2019. Purchase manure at any large landscaping or gardening-supply store. The problem with trying to make good compost from just leaves is that there are n’t enough nitrogenous compounds for an effective balance. Compost can add great value to leaves so this is one important use for old leaves in your garden. Together, these items feed microorganisms, which speed up the process of decay. Because of this, you can use leaves from your backyard or a public park to make inexpensive compost every fall. Not only do these take much longer to break down than leaves, but they’re also highly acidic. Really, it just depends on what you have available, your dedication to making it happen, and how fast you need compost from the leaves. If you want mulch to help retain soil moisture, make leaf mold. What’s the best way to compost live oak leaves? Step 2. Since leaf mold is so high in carbon and low in nitrogen, it can’t be used as a fertilizer, but makes a fantastic soil conditioner. Bins retain some warmth and moisture and make better compost more quickly, but even an open heap (not enclosed in a bin) will compost eventually. Don’t do anything permanent – you’ll be removing them later. But often times we don’t have the time (or patience!) If you are new to composting, the fastest method is the 3-bin system. Not every ingredient in your pile will decompose at the same rate. It can also be used as a mulch. Small thin leaves such as birch break down fairly quickly, while large leathery ones such as chestnut benefit from being shredded first. Bagging leaves to go to the landfill is a waste of landfill space and a waste of a free garden resource. Leaf compost is a mix of leaves and organic materials, like grass clippings or food waste. The heat that forms inside the moist pile of leaves and clippings is often called “cooking.”. At the same time, they provide a good balance of nutrients to the pile. I’ll wait! References. There are so many benefits to using … Continued I love decorating my home backyard with beautiful landscape design and creative garden care techniques I develop myself. 41 DIY Cheap, Easy Compost Bins Plans to Build & Make Your Own, Small (Mini) Indoor Growing Ideas Design for Easy DIY Setup, Composting 101: Definition, What to Compost & How to Start DIY Composting Guide for Beginners, Best Leaf Mulcher: Complete Buying Guide & Leaf Mulcher Reviews, DIY Worm Composting For Beginners: How to Start Vermicompost and Process, Hydroponic Microgreens: How to Grow Microgreens Hydroponically (Without Soil), Best Hedge Shears Reviews and Buying Guide, Best Weed Torch: Weed Burner Buying Guide & Weed Torch Reviews, Best Aquaponics & Hydroponics Water Pump Guide, How to Choose the Best Garden Cart: Outdoor Garden Cart Buying Guide & Recommendations. The smaller the individual pieces of material in the pile, the more surface area the microorganisms can work on, and the faster the materials will decompose. Four ingredients are required for fast-cooking hot compost: Nitrogen, carbon, air, and water. Place a piece of carpet or plastic over the top of the pile to help trap the heat produced by the pile. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Add all material at once then turn it at least once a week or once per day if it is handy. Oak Leaves. Composting Live Oak Leaves: Step-By-Step Instructions. #3 Add A Source Of Nitrogen To Help Compost Leaves. Not only will this put you in their good books, but it will also give you more leaves to compost! Now there’s an easy way to make compost in 30 days or less. Each pile is started individually, keeping newly added items from essentially starting the pile over again. This involves adding other components which complement leaves to make for a good balance. Place them into a bin liner and lightly water them. Oranges and onions, yes, they can go into your compost bin, not into your worm farm. If the fast compost pile was made correctly the internal temperature should rise within the first 24 hours. Turning leaves into garden gold? Your heap needs to be at least 3 feet x 3 feet in size. Gardening does not have to cost a fortune. Last Updated On 09/09/2020. You can also use a compost tumbler to the same effect. Shredding your leaves before you create your pile is a must for making quick compost. Jill is a sustainable focus gardener. 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