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Put simply, if you introduce four large bags of shredded leaves, make sure to incorporate an equivalent amount of green material, like coffee grounds, potato peels, vegetable scraps, and fresh grass clippings.
Also falling under the green category is animal manure from sources like chickens, rabbits, cows, or horses. Avoid using pet manure as it can potentially transmit diseases.
When assembling a compost pile with fall leaves, aim to incorporate as many green components as possible from the outset. Achieving the right balance of green to brown early on speeds up the decomposition process. You can continue to add greens throughout the fall season. Simply turn them into the center of the pile to enhance heat and expedite decomposition.
In terms of size, maintain your leaf compost pile at a minimum of 3 feet high, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet deep. This provides enough volume to generate internal heat while remaining manageable. Open garden spaces are ideal locations for the pile during the fall and winter, and you won’t even need to add sides for containment.
Incorporating green grass clippings into your pile can rapidly elevate the temperature of the shredded leaves.
Step 6: Maintaining Your Pile – How To Compost Leaves Fast
After its creation, a compost pile requires a steady supply of oxygen and water to thrive. This can be achieved by regularly turning and watering the pile as necessary.
Turning the pile facilitates the entry of oxygen into its core. By turning it at least a few times each week, you ensure that oxygen remains present in the middle, which sustains the decomposition process. If you can manage to turn it daily, even better. The more you turn, the hotter it will get and stay.
Apart from oxygen, your compost pile also relies on moisture to continue its decomposition process. A properly functioning compost pile should be adequately moist, akin to the feel of a well-squeezed wet sponge.
If the center of your pile starts to dry out, introducing a bit of water while turning will rejuvenate its activity. Keep turning until the pile freezes over in winter – then resume turning in early spring as it warms up. By planting time, your leaf compost will be thoroughly prepared for use!
