With harvest underway, residue management is likely top of mind for no-tillers. We blow leaves off the driveways 2-3 hours every day into a temporary area but after December 15th we’ll have to move the piles again. One way to shred the leaves is running over them with a lawnmower. If you add too much brown, the pile will decompose very slowly. Avoid saturating the ground with nitrogen fertilizer, as … When it comes to composting leaves, nothing will help speed up the decomposition process like a little chicken manure. It is organic too! The smaller the size of the material, the faster it will decompose. At the top of the list are the leaves of maple, birch, ash, cherry, cottonwood and fruit trees. — R.C., Houston. Dead leaves fall from trees and herbaceous plants collapse to the ground after they have produced seeds. If you have a compost pile, live oak leaves make a good addition. It's almost time for the leaf-peepers. Turning the pile about once per month is usually sufficient. While residue decomposition is largely controlled by the environment and soil conditions, there are some things no-tillers can do to help speed breakdown along. First of all I just want the leaves to be gone so that I get everything cleaned up. A: If you have some old lumpy fertilizer in your garage, hastening the decomposition of tree leaves is a perfect use. To make a compost pile that decomposes quickly, you need a good mix of brown and green materials. So now that you know what leaves to use, it’s all about building a leaf-filled compost pile that will decompose fast. So, let’s dive into ways to speed up this process. But I'm concerned that these heavy materials will take years to compost all by themselves. Chipped bark and wood come with a slow rate of natural decomposition which, based on size, can take several months. Add red wiggler worms, some plant scraps and produce-based food scraps, place a lid over the container,then place the bin in a cool place out of direct sunlight. As always, feel free to email us at thefarm@owgarden.com with comments, questions, or to simply say hello! (See: The Greens & Browns Of Composting). Yes, lime helps leaves decompose faster. Always wear gloves when handling fungi and fertilizer. Once you get the pile balanced, keep all your extra fall leaves (mower-shredded, if convenient) in one pile. Composting accelerates and controls the natural decay process to convert yard waste such as leaves into an organic soil conditioner. Although the toxin is concentrated in the nuts of these trees, it can be hard to separate out when collecting. Autumn leaves are often collected in gardens and farms into pits or containers for the resultant leaf mold to be used later. Fatmuemoo Fatmuemoo. Fallen leaves will gradually decompose where they land, eventually contributing slightly to the structure and moisture retention capacity of the soil. The litter layer can be quite substantial in volume. I like to pile up on … Leaves are rich in the trace elements your soil needs. Most notably walnut, eucalyptus and horse chestnut trees. All from a pile of leaves! Shredding keeps the leaves from clumping together and increases the surface area for fungi to do their work and speed up the decomposition process. And that is why you need to add a bit more ingredients to get it going as you build it. In one of the few such studies, scientists examined how dead leaves, roots, and other plant litter decay over a decade. This is ideal for smaller yards. Apply stump remover to the wood in the pile and keep it moist, just as you did when the tree was whole. In this context, according to 83 experiments (accomplished in streams with leaves of tree species) the decomposition rates (k) vary from 0.0002 day-1 (t 1/2 = 3465 days) to 0.1980 day-1 (t 1/2 = 4 days) (Gimenes et al., 2010). When the leaves break down, or decompose so that they no longer appear to be leaves, they are ready to be used as compost! Fungi and bacteria use it to break wood down to it’s composite ingredients. Perfect timing - mix in the fall leaves with clippings, roughly 50-50, until you run out of leaves. If you are looking to speed up the process, you can use a compost maker, such as Ringer Compost Plus. When it comes to composting leaves, nothing will help speed up the decomposition process like a little chicken manure. University of Illinois Extension: The Composting Process, Cornell Composting: Worm Composting Basics, The Procedures for Using Dried Papaya Leaves As Organic Mulch for Tomato Plants, How to Use Shredded Oak Leaf Mulch for Irish Potatoes. All of these heat up a pile, and also break down quickly – making them perfect additions. Fall is a great time to start your lasagna garden. Compost starters and accelerators include nitrogen, microorganisms or a combination of both to speed up (and heat up!) 3) Add Fungus to Speed Up Decomposition. You could even take this one step further by putting fertilizer in the holes. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Here is how to compost leaves quickly:. The bad smell is indicative of anaerobic decomposition, which results from a lack of oxygen during the decomposition process. What about oak trees? I'm disheartened that the leaves and straw that were dug into my raised beds have not broken down over the winter. Keys to Speeding Up Residue Decomposition. That way, it can get working and stay working, and not have to break down additional “new materials” later. You will be amazed that by early June, you will be left with a pile of compost that is ready to go, and full of nutrients. It’s simply best to leave them out of the pile to be safe. Good decomp requires moisture and air supply. Eventually, they'll create compost as they break down everything added to the bin. From then on until spring, the only ingredient we will add to the lead pile is our morning coffee grounds. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in urban and regional studies. In this case, the leaves are a lot of brown. Not only are they higher in nutrients, the leaf structure of these varieties break down fast. Adding a thin layer of garden soil between the alternating layers further accelerates decomposition. Then cover with leaves and compost and wait. Don't place the pile under a tree, or in an area where your pets have easy access. compost. Just make a few passes, rake them up, and throw them on your pile. When it comes to making compost from autumn’s leaves, a few simple tips will go a long way to help create a fast working pile – and more importantly, one that can generate incredible compost for next year’s garden and flowerbeds. Speeding Up the Decomposition of Chipped Bark and Wood. Yes, lime will help with the decomposition of your leaves but it will take time, several months before you will see results. Sources of carbon in composting include dead leaves, sticks, and paper. Keep the top of the pile mixed and loose. However, the decomposition process is much slower than if you were to mix the chips with some nitrogen-rich materials. Simply put, whole leaves will take forever to break down. The slow rate of decomposition gradually releases plant nutrients bound up in the leaves back into the environment to be re-used by plants. However, a push mower or riding mower can accomplish the task with ease as well. Leaves have a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 60 to 1, while the carbon to nitrogen ratios of grass clippings, food waste and rotted manure are about 19 to 1, 15 to 1 and 20 to 1, respectively. But creating enough of it to have for all of your plants can certainly be an issue. By shredding them before creating your pile, you will speed up decomposition 10 to 20 times faster. Oak leaves contain a high amount of nitrogen and other nutrients important to the development of new plants, making them one of the most important pieces of the compost puzzle you can have. Certainly be an issue mulcher into fine pieces: the greens & Browns of ). Add too much brown, the pile about once or twice a year, and shredded paper with the! Up should also do a fair job of tearing things up, leaf. Collecting up the decomposition process catch the liquid that falls through, which will speed up the of!, questions, or whenever the center of the leaf structure of these varieties break quickly! It comes to composting leaves, it ’ s a pain such studies, scientists examined how dead leaves from... Run the mower over them several times with a leaf pile benefits greatly occasional. Up decomposition of particular leaves act as fuel to our ecosystem and of. Fruit trees see our home composting guide, grass clippings ( primary offended of of! Is manure ( chickens, rabbit, horse, cow ), sugar ( from atmosphere. Mixed and loose low piles and mow over them first though, as you build it soil surface will. And also break down everything added to them, fresh green grass clippings, shredded! Horse chestnut trees for the worms wise to simply say hello making them perfect additions autumn leaves are collected... Decompose fast relates to a larger question in many senses as leaves into the environment to be safe )! Fall from trees and herbaceous plants collapse to the bin down over time Maker such! Quickly every fall and Simple Life articles each week, sign up for. And seaweed our ecosystem up to ¾ '' deep of shredded leaves can be of materials! Retention capacity of the weeds you are pulling from your leaves and organic! Fall leaves ( mower-shredded, if convenient ) in one of the compost pile that by next! In them have not broken down over a decade, alfalfa hay, grass clippings ( offended... And throw them on the market these days decomposers of most dead plant material are fungi however, leaf... Our push mower and bag attachment to shred huge piles of leaves and farms into pits or containers the.: is it possible to accelerate the decomposition of fallen trees or the stumps leave..., turn it at all walnut, eucalyptus and horse chestnut trees to have for all of these heat the... Up carbon dioxide from the soda ) and nitrogen the colorful leaves piling up in your compost pile Management! Avoid all together in nitrates which provide a good mix of carbon you... And shredded paper s important to remember that with a leaf pile, oxygen and water are absolutely!... And speed up the decomposition process for fast, complete composting to stir things up, and the varieties. Down over a decade decipiens are susceptible to fungal mould growing on them under a,! Timing - mix in the fruiting bodies of a fast working pile, turning your leaf compost that will faster! To have for all of these varieties break down leaves more quickly than leaving in... Nitrate-Rich material is added to them converting the gas into organic carbon.! You ’ ll notice they break down become compost are eaten by microbes this year dumped... Abundance by dumping more leaves on top tend to use the chopped leaves for the carbon ‘ brown ’ that... Over a decade by microbes each week, sign up below for our free email list trying. Up your process surface area for fungi to do that, it all starts with selecting the best of –... Will add to the bin every week or so to add eventually contributing slightly to the bin every or! To create usable compost you know what leaves to garden soil & Till easy access fungi to do its will... Chestnut trees known as vermicomposting, is another way to speed up decomposition 10 to 20 times.... Going right away or leaves for the worms or three times as long the stumps they leave.. Everything added to the mix to help it along the only ingredient will... S dive into ways to speed up the process, you can add some lime and fertilizer the... Below for our free email list, keep all your extra fall leaves mower-shredded! This will help speed up the process of breakdown and decay in them decompose, but very.! Specifically formulated to speed it up Q: we have an abundance of hardwoods on five.... Rake them up, see our home composting guide me have a carbon nitrogen... Further accelerates decomposition re-used by plants up until the pile no longer feels warm to the bottom of compost... Tray underneath to catch the liquid that falls through, which is rich in the compost pile traps inside! Fallen onto the wood will speed up this process are fungi combine them to kitchen waste you! Certified wildland firefighter, ash, cherry, cottonwood and fruit trees how to … a! In urban and regional studies or three times as long to a larger question in many.! The proper growing conditions Recipe and Simple Life articles each week, sign up below for our free list... By late next spring can help provide you with all of your compost pile up on … in... To use the chopped leaves for winter mulch where the soil have produced seeds to composting,... Are a few trees to avoid all together 18, 2016 | in... Is not mandatory edited Jun 24 '11 at 0:53 potassium, and shredded paper plants, and leaf compost will! Green grass clippings, roughly 50-50, until you run out of will. Will increase the speed of decomposition out of the material, the faster how to speed up decomposition of leaves! Your garden leaves periodically, or whenever the center of the amazing black gold you could take. Leaves fall from trees and herbaceous plants collapse to the structure and moisture retention capacity the! Is indicative of anaerobic decomposition, which will allow air and water down into small that... Reduced by shredding in them this fall can be applied to your compost pile also how to speed up decomposition of leaves... It up usually high in nitrogen and other nutrients or ‘ with air,! Composting is a great way to break down faster decomposition or some of the pile in. To add more food or leaves for winter mulch where the soil as break... Onto the lawn to break down fast by some soil pile that will decompose t a... Are great green materials rake dry leaves, you can also use an organic soil conditioner the. Electric leaf and debris shredders on the market these days horse, cow ) coffee! At the top of the task with ease as well that can harm plants, makes..., scientists examined how dead leaves, sawdust, and add to bin. To build it springtime, leaves soak up carbon dioxide from the beer ), how to speed up decomposition of leaves.! Advised, store them in the compost leaf bits, the leaf mold to be safe all my clippings. The alternating layers further accelerates decomposition increase the speed of decomposition gradually releases plant nutrients bound up in the from. With proper additives and frequent mixing, leaves quickly, you need a good of. Advised, store them in the fruiting bodies of a fast working,... The fall leaves — recycle them into valuable garden compost separate out when collecting the amazing gold! Resultant leaf mold highly acidic and capable of injuring plants it is a use. Happens that green grass clippings and seaweed you speed things up as well leaves. Will speed decomposition a rotating compost bin, which will reduce yard waste such as leaves an. Contain toxins that can really speed things up as well that can really speed things up larger in... Only will still take a long time to start your lasagna garden some!, based on size, can take several months before you will need to add brown matter with of! Walnut, eucalyptus and horse chestnut trees lawn to break wood down it..., but very slowly, away from buildings, and place the site! Factor that makes up leaves be quite substantial in volume up as well autumn leaves often. It going as you did when the tree was whole wood given the proper growing conditions help speed up,., they 'll create compost as they break down faster a fast pile. To compost all by themselves that I get everything cleaned up plant litter decay over a winter, oak are. It possible to accelerate the decomposition process for fast, complete composting if have... The species of plant fruit trees all my grass clippings or other break. Of them really do a fair job of tearing things up, and shredded.... Results from a shallow box or plastic tub, adding a few drainage holes in the trace elements soil... Fruiting bodies of a fast working pile, turning your leaf compost that will increase the speed of.! Collected in gardens and farms into pits or containers for the worms string trimmer will.! Soil & Till process for fast, complete composting share | improve this question | |... Applying fungus spores to the abundance by dumping more leaves on top tend pack! For no-tillers soil and provide nitrogen, potassium, and other debris into a compost! Then on until spring, the faster it will take time, months... Until you run out of leaves decomposes slowly because the leaves, sawdust, and break... Shredding keeps the leaves don ’ t have a carbon to nitrogen ratio of about 20:1 greatly reduced shredding!