Composting Leaves This Fall

If you don't have a regular compost pile or bin and don't have the time or inclination to get one going and you just want to be able to do something with all those leaves then this is the method for you. Pile them up in an unused corner of the yard and leave them there. That's it. That's the start of your compost pile. The pile will take a long time to become compost, but it will eventually and you can be happy knowing that you will be able to use those leaves and keep them out of the landfill.

If you want to be a bit neater and speed the process along a bit, cover the pile with black plastic to keep the heat in. Another very simple method is to put the leaves in black plastic garbage bags and leave them piled up. A sunny spot is ideal but any out of the way spot will work. Next year have will have rich compost to add to your beds with little to no effort on your part.

If you already have a compost pile or want to put one together fall is the ideal time to add to it. In addition to leaves you have all the garden waste from fall clean up available. When you add leaves to an existing pile or starting a new one its a good practice to do add them in layers broken up with layers of green waste or dirt or stalks to create some aeration between the layers. Leaves, like grass clippings, will clump up and make a hot soggy layer that will take a while to break down.

If you have a tumbler then you know how fast you can make compost! You do need to tend it a lot more often but for gardeners short on space and wanting faster compost, a tumbler is the ideal tool for the job. Just add leaves and spin for lovely black gold.

Another hint for composting leaves is to use them directly in your garden beds for winter mulch. If you have tender plants that you want to protect use those leaves to build up a warm winter cover for them to help protect them through the cold season.

I have a lot of raised beds that I like to add organic matter to and late fall is the perfect time to do it. After I clean out the beds for the winter, I lay on a thick layer of leaves. I moisten the leaves to the consistency of a wrung out sponge and then cover the bed with black plastic. The leaves will cook and decay all winter with the help of the heat from the black plastic. In the spring I work the decayed matter into the beds for added nutrients and I have the added bonus of the soil soaking up the warmth from the black plastic and being able to plant earlier!