How To Compost Leaves

When trying to dispose of hundreds of fallen autumn foliage, knowing how to compost leaves is very helpful. Not only does it get rid of the unwanted leaves littering your yard, but it also creates rich soil that is full of nutrients. By composting your autumn leaves, the result will help create a beautiful garden come springtime. Follow these simple instructions to create your own wonderful compost heap out of leaves.

What You Will Need:

• Lawn mower
• Pitchfork or Manure fork
• Tarp
• Nitrogen source (grass clippings, manure or bone meal)

1. Break Down Your Leaves. Because parts of an object decay faster than the whole, it is important to begin by breaking down your leaves.  This is a relatively simple process. The easiest way to shred your leaves is to run a lawn mower over them before raking them into piles. This ensures that the leaves are fragmented before they are added to the compost heap.
2. Add Your Nitrogen. Leaves are naturally low in nitrogen, which is a necessary component for fast decaying. If creating a compost heap solely of leaves, nitrogen will need to be added. The best way to do this is by adding bone meal or manure. However, if these are not available, some nitrogen can be added by adding grass clippings in with the leaves.
3. Weather Protect. Cover your compost heap with a waterproof tarp. This will keep moisture out and help your compost to decay faster.
4. Turn Your Heap. You will want to add the freshest leaves to the bottom of the heap and keep decayed material on top. In addition, every four to five days, turn the heap with a manure fork to circulate the decaying material.