DIY Network

Composting With Fall Leaves From "The Dirt On..." episode DTDO-114

Don't fill another garbage bag with leaves only to throw it away. You can turn that mess into dark, rich compost that will improve your soil and fertilize your plants — and best of all, this "gardener's gold" will be absolutely free! Master Gardener Peggy Peterson explains how easy it is to create and maintain a compost pile.

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Can you use any kind of leaves in the compost pile?

Peggy Peterson: Leaves are perfect for the compost pile, whether they're soggy and wet or dried to a crisp. You can use just about every type of leaf out there. Some leaves like magnolia are really thick, however, so if you want to use those, you'll need to shred them.

The leaves are the "browns" that will add carbon to the pile. Other "browns" you can use are the remains of your summer garden, including tomato plants past their prime, prunings from perennials, and even twigs and branches, but it's better to shred those first. Make sure the plants are disease-free, haven't been treated with pesticides and don't contain mature weed seeds.

What else do you need in your pile besides the "browns"?

Peggy Peterson: Your pile also needs some "greens," which are items that contain nitrogen. Lawn clippings are usually the No. 1 choice, but your lawn slows its growth in the fall so they aren't as abundant. Instead, you can use kitchen scraps (vegetable and fruit parts but no meat, bones, dairy products or fat). If you're a big coffee drinker, those grounds will add nitrogen too. Coffee houses will often give their grounds to composting customers too, so even if you don't indulge in the caffeine you can give your pile a boost. You can also add aged manure. Composted steer or chicken manure is available in bags at most nurseries.

Once you have about an equal amount of browns and greens, you'll just need air and water. You can introduce air into your pile by turning it regularly. The amount of water you should add is just enough to keep it as wet as a wrung-out sponge. This means that on the dry days you'll have to hose it down, and when it rains for a prolonged period you'll have to cover it up. The snow is a little harder to keep out. If you live in a snowy area, insulate your pile with straw bales and cover it tightly.

How can you protect your compost pile from cold winter temperatures?

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Peggy Peterson: The temperature drop in the fall and winter poses a problem for compost because it's harder for the pile to generate the high temperatures it needs to break down the materials. The minimum size for a compost pile is 3' x 3' x 3'. The size determines how hot the pile will get. A larger pile will generate more heat so it's important to build it up in the winter months. A compost thermometer will help you to see if you're in the right range, which is around 160 degrees. If it drops below this, it's time to turn it.

Can you do anything to speed the composting process along?

Peggy Peterson: If you want to put your pile on the fast track, there are a few things you can do to speed the process along: