Super Fast Leaf Composting Trick, by Sergeant Dale Whitfield on YouTube. 17 min 40 s.
- Video length
- 17 min 40 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour to build, 4 to 8 weeks
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Rake the dry leaves onto a tarpaulin so you can drag them to one spot instead of carrying armfuls across the yard.
Shred the leaves by running a lawn mower over them on the tarp, or pass them through a leaf shredder. Smaller pieces break down far faster than whole leaves.
Mix the shredded leaves with green material such as grass clippings or kitchen scraps. Aim for roughly two or three parts brown leaves to one part greens.
Pile the mix in a heap at least 1 metre (3 feet) wide and tall, or load it into a compost bin or wire enclosure. A bigger pile holds heat better.
Water the pile until it feels like a wrung-out sponge. Squeeze a handful: it should be damp but not dripping.
Turn the pile with a garden fork every week or two, moving the outside material into the middle so it all heats evenly.
Check the heat by pushing your hand into the centre after a few days. A working pile feels warm. If it stays cold, add more greens or water.
Keep turning and watering until the material turns dark, crumbly and smells earthy, usually 4 to 8 weeks for a hot pile.
For slower leaf mould, pack whole or shredded leaves into a wire bin or black bags with a few holes, keep them damp, and leave them for 6 to 12 months.
Tips and common mistakes
Whole leaves can take years to break down, so shredding is the single biggest speed-up.
If the pile smells sour or slimy, it has too many greens; add more shredded leaves and turn it.
The sun is not what heats a compost pile, so do not worry about shade; the microbes generate the heat.
Wear gloves and eye protection when using a shredder or mower over leaves, and keep the mower blade away from stones.
Questions
Do I need a compost bin to do this?
No. A free-standing heap or a ring of wire mesh works fine. A bin just keeps things tidier and helps hold moisture and heat.
Why is my leaf pile not heating up?
It is usually short of nitrogen or water. Mix in more grass clippings or kitchen scraps, damp it down, and turn it to bring air in.
Can I just leave the leaves on the lawn?
A thin layer is fine, but thick whole leaves smother grass. Shred them with the mower first or rake them into your pile.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
