There are two methods for composting leaves. Leaf compost is made from a combination of leaves and organic components such as grass clippings or food waste. Leaf mulch (sometimes known as leaf mold) is just leaves and water.
Make leaf mold if you want mulch to assist maintain soil moisture. Compost is the way to go if you want additional plant nutrients as well as pest and disease management.
Composting dry leaves
With so many dry leaves around, you may prepare compost and put it to good use. Compost is made from plant elements that may degrade, such as grass, dried leaves, or vegetable scraps.
Compost can aid in soil enrichment, moisture retention, plant disease suppression, and pest control by filtering harmful bugs.
To begin, shred the leaves with a mower and collect them in a mower bag, then:
Leaves can be composted or piled in a corner of your yard. Add a nitrogen-rich substance to the leaves, such as cottonseed meal, grass clippings, food waste, or manure.
Build the pile until it is three feet tall and three feet broad. Alter between using leaves and using a nitrogen product. Use four parts leaves to one part nitrogen as a general guideline.
Once a month, turn the compost. However, due to the freezing temperatures in the winter, the composting process frequently comes to a halt. So, if your compost bin is insulated, only turn it in the winter.
Check for wetness when you turn. Add water to any dry spots you find. If your compost smells bad or seems wet, add items like leaves, straw, or sawdust to dry it out.
Continue churning and checking moisture levels in your compost until it is ready. Compost that has been finished is black in color, dry and crumbly in texture, and smells earthy.
You can get compost in a few of months if you keep turning the pile. It might take up to a year if you don’t turn it in the winter.
How long does it take to compost leaves?
It might take anything from a few months to a year for leaves to decompose. Patience is therefore required.
Alternatively, you may get rid of them faster by just driving your lawn mower over them. The grass will absorb all of the nutrients from the leaves!
Are dead dry leaves compostable?
Dried leaves are high in carbon, which is necessary for composting. Along with tree branches, twigs, and even paper, they are classified as “brown” composting material.
Avoid using glossy or specialist paper for composting since it may contain ink and other chemicals that are harmful to plants and animals.
What are the best leaves to compost?
Compostable leaves: Compostable leaves have a low lignin content and a high calcium and nitrogen content. Ash, maple, fruit tree leaves, poplar, and willow are examples of these leaves. These ‘good’ leaves normally decompose after approximately a year.
Conclusion
Dry leaves may also be a vital component of good compost, which is preferable to artificial fertilizer. Compost nourishes plants, retains moisture in the soil, aids in fertilizer distribution, improves weeding, attracts worms, and aids in disease prevention.
Reference
- Bioconversion of flowers waste: Composting using dry leaves as bulking agent
- Macronutrient Content of Dry Leaves Compost By Vermicomposting Method
- Management of Leaf Compost – A Way for Sustainable Development
