How to Compost Leaves in Woven Bags

Make your own soil amendment using fallen leaves.

Leaf mold consists of composted leaves. When the leaves fall from deciduous trees in fall, they often end up inside a trash collection can. Instead, save the leaves and allow them to compost over the fall and winter. Use the compost to add nutrients and organic matter to garden soils the following spring and summer. A woven bag, such as a burlap sack, contains the leaves as they decompose into compost, but also provides air circulation, which helps speed up the composting process.

Things You'll Need

• Lawn mower

Instructions

1. Rake up the leaves after they fall from the trees in autumn. Run a lawn mower over the leaves to shred them into smaller pieces, which speeds up the composting process.

2. Place the leaves into a burlap or other woven material bag. Fill the bag loosely; do not pack down the leaves. Tie the bag closed.

3. Water the bag so the leaves inside are fully moistened. Set the bag in a shaded, out-of-the-way area where snow will not collect heavily on top of it during the winter months.

4. Spray the bag with water if the leaves inside begin to dry out. The leaf compost is ready to use once all the leaves have broken down into a dark brown or black soil-like substance.

Tips & Warnings

• Work finished leaf mold into garden bed before planting or topdress perennial plants with the mold.

• You can also compost leaves in plastic garbage bags. Poke some holes in the bags to provide drainage and air circulation.

References

• Washington State University Extension: Save Those Fallen Leaves and Make "Leaf Mold"
• City of Darien, Illinois: Don't Bag -- Leaf Management Guidelines