If you are new to composting, the fastest method is the 3-bin system. 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. Mix the layers every two weeks and keep the pile moderately moist. That could make it hard for the plants in your garden to get the moisture they need". By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Each pile is started individually, keeping newly added items from essentially starting the pile over again. There are so many benefits to using … Continued Leaves will decompose into compost more quickly if they are shredded before being placed in a compost bin. Most gardeners have plenty of greens and not enough browns, but due to their high carbon content, Around 20% of landfill waste is made up of leaves and other organic materials. Jill is a sustainable focus gardener. Place an 8-inch layer of leaves on the bottom of the compost bin. 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. 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. Oak Leaves. Step 2. Things like tea leaves, they're also good to go in here. Either material will allow oxygen to get to your compost. Try asking neighbors that you see raking if you can bag up leaves or take their bags of weeds. Let the leaves dry out first because dried leaves shred more easily than wet leaves. Oak Leaves. Alternatively, you can make a bin for your leaf mold out of chicken wire or a similar material. There are more things you can do to accelerate the process of turning dead dry leaves into organic fertilizer. They’ll probably be more than happy to let you cart off some of their manure. Leaves of all sorts are a great material to add to your compost bin, though they might need a bit of preparation for fast composting. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Leaves are just one thing that might appear in your garden during the fall. But often times we don’t have the time (or patience!) You can encourage this natural cycle in your own garden by minimising the amount of plant matter you discard, returning it instead to the soil. Shredding your leaves before you create your pile is a must for making quick compost. There are also many people who choose to make their own compost heaps. 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. Place them into a bin liner and lightly water them. These elements are necessary to prevent odors and feed bacteria and fungi. Not only will this put you in their good books, but it will also give you more leaves to compost! However, for the average gardener, leaf composting takes place in a cold heap over the winter months. Compost is more difficult to make than mulch but it is very beneficial. I know this isn't what you want to hear, but the fastest (in terms of their rotting down) and tidiest way to compost leaves is actually to bag them up - if they're wet already, all the better, if not, wet the contents, tie the tops shut, poke two or three holes in the bottom of the bags and stand them out of the way somewhere to rot down over time. The leaves may start to break down in the bag, but this isn’t a problem – it will speed up the decomposition process once you do get around to using them. Simply put, whole leaves will take forever to break down. Composting Leaves. They are fast. Easy ways to compost kitchen waste. Step 2 Sprinkle 1/3 cup each of … Composting is essentially the decomposition of plants. You can check the fall street sweeping schedule and go the day before to collect extra leaves from the curb. Mixing up the material and aerating it keeps it moist, w… This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. The huge advantage of adding composting worms is that the material breaks down faster. 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 can't find many leaves on your and your neighbors' lawns, call landscaping companies to ask if they give away leaves they gather. Even better, it's a free resource if you have deciduous trees that drop a lot of fall leaves. This is where the compost is turned frequently and added all at once per unit. How to Compost Leaves Firstly, shred or grind the leaves. What ingredients go into good compost? There were concrete bins near our shop that were stockpiled with mulch and topsoil. Also, well-maintained vermicomposting bin usually has a pleasant, earthy smell. The method you choose depends on the space you have available, and the time you want to devote to composting. In 2007 and 2008, Steve taught the Local Sustainable Agriculture Field Practicum at Stanford University. After this, your compost will be almost ready. Purchase manure at any large landscaping or gardening-supply store. Keep the bag in a well-ventilated location for one to two years. Collect the shredded leaves in the lawn mower bag, or rake them into a pile after shredding. Store your leaves in bags until you’ve got enough materials for a 3’x3’ heap. Or, if you live near a livestock farm or ranch, talk to the owners. Leaf mulch (also called leaf mold) is just leaves and water. The fastest way to decompose leaves is to gradually add them to kitchen waste when you put it in the compost. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. 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. Hot composting is the most labor-intensive method, but a cold compost heap or a few bags of leaf mold are very low-maintenance and will still give you a beneficial finished product that your garden will absolutely love. Here’s how to compost leaves quickly so that you can put them to good use in your garden as soon as possible. To prevent this from happening, separate out any black walnut leaves and dispose of them. 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. Now there’s an easy way to make compost in 30 days or less. Creating The Pile – Shred Those Leaves! Turning the compost pile allows the leaves to decompose uniformly and keeps a good mixture of oxygen throughout the pile. Josh demonstrates a method to successfully compost gum leaves. Making your own compost is a great way to reuse your garden refuse. Smaller pieces of leaves break down more quickly. There are many other organic materials you might wish to get rid of. This article was co-authored by Steve Masley. Constant Delights is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. What ingredients go into good compost? Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Vermicompost is made with the help of worms. Those that are higher in calcium and nitrogen will break down in about a year, while others take a couple of years. Kitchen waste is usually high in nitrates which provide a good balance for the carbon ‘brown’ factor that makes up leaves. B. Never locate a compost pile on concrete, cement, or asphalt. Use a leaf shredder If you don’t have enough organic materials to make a large enough hot compost heap, you can save them up until you do. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/Compost-Leaves-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Compost-Leaves-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/Compost-Leaves-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid3722443-v4-728px-Compost-Leaves-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"