| The opinions shared here are based upon my own experiences working with compost and may not be shared by all. Can you compost awkward leaves and stems? |
| This is a question from various gardeners who are curious about composting and if there are leaves that shouldn’t be composted for any particular reason. I always answer the same way: to ask my question. “Are you cold or hot composting?” Regardless of the heat you choose to work with, it’s important to remember that most leaves can be composted over time. Whether you opt for the quick breakdown of heat composting or the slower pace of cold composting, you have the power to transform your garden waste into nutrient-rich compost. When it comes to composting, the type of leaves you choose does matter to some extent. Whether it’s holly, mahonia, rose prunings, hawthorn stems, brambles, rhododendron leaves, magnolia, birch, oak, ivy leaf, pine needles, or leaves from other coniferous plants and shrubs, understanding their composting properties can help you make informed decisions. Remember, everything breaks down in time or under heat. If you’re looking to speed up the process, you can break down the leaves using a shredder or your mower. The smaller the components in your compost, the quicker they’ll break down, giving you peace of mind about the effectiveness of your composting process. You may have noted that l included the word ‘healthy’; the exception would be if you wish to compost unhealthy leaves; l always suggest using the hot composting method [and potentially drowning first]. Should you wish not to compost any of your healthy leaves directly, another option would be to bag them, seal them, and store them for twelve to eighteen months. By that time, they will have rotted down and become leaf mould, and depending on the health issue, l would then consider hot composting that material to be sure. Other options include using the leaves for worm farms or bins as an insulator, heater, bedding, or food source. Leaves can also be used as underfoot bedding and or substrate for chickens. Additionally, with the use for chickens, when you come to clear out the chicken run, you will have leaves mixed with chicken manure, which in turn will heat up if added to the compost pile. It would help if you also considered where the leaves have come from before using them with any method—leaves that may have been chemically sprayed directly on either the tree or shrub or in heaps should be avoided. Some leaves would be better off composted or turning into leaf mould on their own, like black walnut or eucalyptus, which contain natural toxins of their own. Despite some myths, black walnut leaves can be composted. They will decay and decompose. The juglone, an allelopathic compound found in black walnut leaves that can inhibit the growth of certain plants, will break down, and the leaf’s toxicity can take up to four weeks to leave. If you plan to compost, consider using hot water or bagging it for leaf mould. Bramble, blackthorn, and rose stems can take longer to decompose, but they will break down over time. Still, even with hot composting, these stems and branches remain lethal, so I suggest one of two pre-composting methods to force breakdown more efficiently. 1] Shred or mow stems first several times to break the stems/branches down or reduce in size, but mainly to break the integrity of the roughage. 2] Place the stems in a lidded drowning bin, a container filled with water, and leave for two to four months to dissolve the stems’ integrity. Adding urine to the bin will quicken the process. Ivy leaves can be composted, although l suggest hot composting and, if possible, shredding the leaves first. The problem with ivy leaves and cold composting methods is that the ivy can quickly regrow from sometimes the tiniest pieces. Another safer method if you do not maintain hot composting methods is to black bag the ivy leaves separately and leave them for eighteen months to turn into leaf compost. Store the bags in an area that sunlight cannot penetrate. Another alternative is to drown in a lidded bin and leave for six months. |
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