Home Gardening

What to do with those fall leaves -- compost them!
Garden Tips Newsletter - November 27, 2000

Fall has arrived and with it falling leaves. Instead of raking and putting them into plastic bags (and filling up our landfills) turn them into magic -- compost magic. A compost pile can turn those fall leaves into fertile soil for your garden. Build your compost pile in a convenient but inconspicuous location -- preferably near your garden. Make sure the location is near a water source and drains well. The size of the pile is important for proper composting. Piles should be at least 3 feet wide and 3 feet high. If you have more material, make the pile about 5 feet wide. If you live in a small area or do not have adequate material for a compost pile, tumblers and bins can be bought or made to speed up the process.

A compost pile consists of many layers of material. Layers should consist of brown material --all those fallen leaves and green material -- kitchen scraps, grass clippings, green plants. An equal amount of brown and green material is necessary for rapid and proper decomposition of materials. Once you have added the green and brown material, moisten, but do not soak the pile. The pile also needs to be turned and mixed. This keeps the pile aerated and will speed up decomposition. If the pile is large, moistened and turned usable compost is usually ready in four to six weeks.

For more information on composting refer to extension publication 1782, "Composting: Nature's way to recycle."

These archived newsletters were written by Dr. Lelia Scott Kelly. Kelly is a Horticulture Specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Her office is in the North Mississippi Research & Extension Center, Verona.