The Benefits of Leaf Compost
Composting leaves makes a dark, rich, earthy, organic matter that can be used like soil. It adds nutrients to the garden soil and the larger particle size helps enhance the tilth and loosen compacted earth. Compost retains moisture and repels weeds when used as a top dressing or mulch.
How to Compost Leaves
The compost bin doesn’t have to be a complex structure and you can even compost in a pile. The basic idea is to add air occasionally for the aerobic microbes that are in the pile decomposing the material. You also need to keep the compost warm, around 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 C.) or warmer, and moist but not soggy. The basic compost bin is 3 square feet (0.5 sq. m.). This gives enough room to turn the compost to increase the air circulation and mix in moist material. Composting leaves in garden soil as a top dressing is also suitable. You can chop up the leaves with your mower and spread them over your vegetable garden. Lay a layer of grass on that and the bed will be ready to go after tilling in spring. Smaller pieces break down faster in a compost situation. Use the mower to break up the leaves. You also need a balance of carbon, which is the leaf litter, and nitrogen. Nitrogen can be thought of as green, moist items such as grass clippings. Fast composting of leaves starts with a layer 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20.5 cm.) thick of leaves with one inch (2.5 cm.) of soil and an inch (2.5 cm.) of manure or another green nitrogen source. You can also add 1 cup (240 mL.) of nitrogen fertilizer. Mix the layers every two weeks and keep the pile moderately moist.
Problems Composting Leaves
Diseased leaves may be composted but it takes such high temperatures to kill the pathogens that it is not sensible to try in the winter compost pile. The pathogens will likely end up infesting your compost, and if you spread this compost in the garden it will infect the plants. You can send the material to your county yard waste program where they have the ability to keep temperatures warm, or simply dispose of the leaves. Adding leaves to your compost pile will be adding browns, or carbon, to the pile. In order to maintain proper balance in your compost pile, you will want to balance out the browns with green materials, such as grass clippings or food scraps. Turning and watering your pile regularly will assist in the composting process. Composting leaves that are only heating up in the center of the pile should be turned out and mixed with fresh organic materials.
