The Best Way to Compost Leaves

Turn dead leaves into useful garden fertilizer with a compost bin.

Yards and gardens can get covered with dead leaves as they fall from trees in the fall and winter. Leaves left in yards can look untidy and unattractive, and a layer of leaves left on a lawn can kill the grass underneath. The best way to deal with fallen leaves is to gather them up, compost them and use the compost as a springtime fertilizer for gardens. Adding the decomposed organic matter to soil greatly improves its quality. The most effective and easiest way to compost leaves is to shred them, store them in a compost bin and turn them occasionally, according to the Good Compost website.

Things You'll Need

• Lawn mower
• Rake
• Garden shredder
• Compost bin

Instructions

1. Mow over leaves on lawns with a lawnmower to shred them. Gather fallen leaves from other areas of the yard or garden by raking them up or using a leaf blower, which can help pick up leaves in difficult areas such as driveways and sidewalks. Shred the leaves collected from yards and driveways in a garden shredder device.

2. Place the shredded leaves in a compost bin. Consider using a wire or wood frame compost container that is open to the elements. The flow of air and addition of moisture from rain and snow speeds up the composting.

3. Add other organic matter to the leaf compost to further speed up the decomposition. Add wood chips, wood bark, straw and non-glossy paper.

4. Throw in nitrogen-rich organic waste, including coffee grounds, plant clippings, uncooked vegetable waste and fruit scraps. Add these elements to the compost when you have them. Nitrogen is an important plant food, and leaf-based compost needs additional nitrogen to be effective as a fertilizer.

5. Turn the compost occasionally by hand or with a garden fork. This helps to get air into all areas of the decomposing material.

Tips & Warnings

• Composting leaves in an open pile is an alternative to compost bins. However, consider erecting a temporary fence around the compost pile to keep children and pets out.

• Wear protective gloves if turning compost by hand.

References

• Good Compost: How to Compost Leaves the Easy Way
• Texas A&M University: Agrilife Extension, Don't Bag It, Leaf Management Plan
• Easy Green Living: The Best Way to Compost Leaves

Resources

• Compost Bins For Sale