Gardening with Allen Wilson: Compost leaves now for spring gardens

My neighbor suggested that I compost my leaves instead of disposing of them. How do I go about composting? How can I use my compost?

Your neighbor’s suggestion is an excellent one. I not only compost my own leaves and grass clippings, but I collect leaves from neighbors.

Composting is a very simple process. Leaves need moisture and aeration for most rapid decomposition. A little fertilizer will also speed up the process.

Find an unused area in your yard and pile leaves and grass clippings. Some people put side boards or concrete blocks so the pile can be higher. Place a layer of leaves about a foot deep and then sprinkle a shovel full of soil over it. The soil contains micro-organisms that break down the leaves as they use them for food. Also sprinkle a hand full of lawn fertilizer over the leaves. Then, make additional 1-foot layers and add some more soil and fertilizer each time. End by sprinkling the pile with water. The winter rains will take care of keeping the pile wet.

It is desirable to turn the pile over with a spading fork about once a month to introduce air into the lower part of the pile. Even without turning, decomposition will occur.

In addition to leaves and grass clippings, other green material can be added. Weeds are fine if they have not gone to seed. You don’t want to add weed seeds to the compost. Table scraps and coffee grounds can also be added. Even ashes in a limited amount will add some fertility to the compost.

Gather leaves with ease

There are a couple of ways to make leaf gathering easier. Power blowers gather leaves more quickly than raking. A rotary lawn mower can be run over leaves to chop them into small pieces and collect them into the clipping bag. The smaller pieces break down more quickly than whole leaves.

Even if you don’t plan to compost leaves, use a mower to chop and condense them by about two-thirds or three-fourths.

Next spring, you will have some rich compost to add to the vegetable garden and flower and shrub beds. Some compost can be spaded or tilled into vegetable and annual flower beds. Simply place a layer several inches deep on top and then spade or till it in.

A 2- or 3-inch layer of compost placed around trees, shrubs and flowers will prevent about 90 percent of weeds from germinating. Compost adds valuable nutrients and improves the physical properties of the soil so water can run in and through the soil more readily.

Gather leaves with ease

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