Many homeowners wonder, “are leaves good for compost?” As fall approaches and the leaves start to change colors, many people wonder what to do with that large leaf pile of those autumn leaves. You may be tempted to rake up those colorful leaves and use them for compost. But before you do, it’s important to know if they are actually a good addition to your compost pile.
Many people would agree that leaves are good for compost. The reason is simple, leaves are organic and are an excellent source of minerals and nutrients. Around 80% of the nutrients in a tree will end up in its leaves.
If you start composting leaves, you will add valuable minerals and nutrients into the soil structure, and that’s precisely the thing you want to focus on here.
Should I Put Leaves in My Compost?
Are leaves good compost? Absolutely. Since leaves have many minerals and nutrients, they can really help bring a lot of value to your compost. Aside from that, leaves also have a very high amount of carbon in them, making them ideal for pretty much any type of compost.
Remember, a proper balance of carbon and nitrogen is vital for your compost pile and garden soil.
In general, composting leaves is an excellent idea, and it can bring in front some amazing results. Of course, it will take a while for leaves to decompose completely, but the results you get can be outstanding in the long run.
It’s always important to know what kind of leaves decompose fastest, so you can have compost ready quicker.
Of course, it will take a bit of trial and error on your side as you figure out which ones are good for compost. But in the end, you can obtain great results.
Should I Put My Fallen Leaf Litter into My Compost Bin?
In general, you can put fallen leaves in your compost. The answer depends entirely on where these leaves came from – if they’re from a tree that’s on your property and you know the source, then yes.
If they’re from your lawn or another public area, it might not be such an excellent idea to mix them in with what will eventually become garden soil for growing vegetables. Leaves from unknown sources can be contaminated with pesticides or other chemicals that may be harmful for your compost pile.
The Best Types of Leaves for Compost Piles
The best leaves for composting are those with low amounts of lignin and a high amount of nitrogen and calcium. Maple, birch, ash, beech, cherry, and all varieties of fruit trees and nut trees are the best choices of all. They tend to break down in a year, which is faster when compared to other leaf options.
At the other end of the spectrum, you have leaves with a high amount of lignin, like sweet chestnut, holly, oak, beech, and others.
Using the proper leaves in your pile can really speed up the composting process to get you great results in a shorter amount of time. It may be worth separating your leaves before placing them in your compost pile.
How Long Does It Take for Leaves to Turn to Compost?
Under the proper conditions, it can take leaves approximately three to six months to decompose in your compost.
The time will vary depending on the specific conditions of your traditional compost pile, such as size, materials, moisture, and temperature. However, this is a fairly long time to get finished compost.
Leaves that are not placed in compost take much longer to decompose, up to a year or longer.
You can speed up the decomposition process in your compost pile by shredding the leaves first. Using shredded leaves will help the compost bacteria to break down the leaves much easier. Some people use their lawn mower to help out with this process.
Can You Put Too Many Leaves in Your Compost?
Yes, you definitely can put too many leaves in your compost pile. Remember, the key to great composting is all about finding the proper balance of carbon and nitrogen.
Leaves are high in carbon, and adding too much can overwhelm your compost pile. You should always balance your leaf compost with nitrogen-rich materials such as grass clippings, manure, kitchen scraps, food waste, and other types of green materials. Food scraps work great.
Dead or Alive
Can You Use Dead Leaves as Compost?
Yes, most people use dead leaves for their compost. Leaves that are brown and dried out would be considered a “brown material.” These materials are higher in carbon.
Can You Use Green Leaves as Compost?
On the other hand, green leaves can also be used as compost. These leaves are usually freshly clipped from the tree and are considered a “green material.” However, you’ll have to keep a few things in mind when composting green leaves.
- Green leaves are higher in nitrogen. You’ll need to be careful about maintaining a proper balance of carbon and nitrogen.
- Green leaves take longer to decompose. You’ll need to consider the timing of your compost and make sure you have appropriate conditions for proper decomposition.
Are There Any Issues with Leaf Composting?
Typically, you will encounter two minor issues.
Leaves Tend to Mat
Leaves tend to mat, which usually ends up creating a barrier to air and water. You want to prevent that by shredding leaves before composting them. If shredded, the leaves can’t mat, so they will decompose a lot faster.
Time to Decompose
Leaves take a bit of time to break down. This is because they have lignin, a compound that’s known to resist decomposing. That’s why it can take a year or even two years for leaves to decompose.
Leaf Mold and Leaf Mulch
What Is Leaf Mold?
Leaf mold is the product that develops from a pile of dead leaves that have decomposed, which can usually be added to your garden to create rich soil.
Leaf mold is different than compost in that it is not mixed with other organic matter to get it to decompose. Instead, leaf mold is the natural decomposition of only leaves with little to no mixture of nitrogen waste.
Leaf mold is naturally occurring if you pile up your leaves in a yard waste pile. However, many people will make leaf mold as it can be great for your garden.
What Is Leaf Mulch?
Leaf mulch is simply the result of taking leaves and placing them directly on top of your gardening soil. Using leaf mulch in your garden helps protect the soil by keeping it moist during dry periods and retaining nutrients for plants to soak up.
It takes about six months for decomposition after the leaf mulch is left on top of the ground before becoming usable as fertilizer (compost).
Conclusion
Yes, composting leaves is an excellent idea, and it can bring in front some amazing results. Of course, it will take a while for leaves to decompose completely, but the results you get can be outstanding in the long run.
It’s always important to know what kind of leaves decompose fastest, so you can have compost ready quicker. Try for fruit tree leaves and nut tree leaves!
It will take a bit of trial and error on your side as you figure out which ones are good for compost. But in the end, you can obtain excellent results, and that’s what matters.