How to make leaf compost?

Fertilizing trees, shrubs and garden beds is an integral part of plant care. At the same time, some focus on finished products that can be purchased in stores, while others prefer to prepare top dressing themselves, believing that they are healthier. In any case, it will be useful for every gardener to know how to compost the leaves.

Leaf compost is a fertilizer made from leaves fallen from trees. But dry leaves themselves are not a valuable material that would contain trace elements and vitamins. They need to be prepared in a certain way and only then used for their intended purpose. Do not leave leaves under the trees. It is possible that pests may start there, fungal diseases may arise that will harm trees and shrubs. But you can prepare high-quality humus, which will benefit the plants. The advantages of this fertilizer are as follows:

• the soil retains a sufficient amount of moisture required by the plant;
• earthworms appear in the soil, which are beneficial, since they participate in the processes of water and air exchange, the soil becomes softer and looser;
• thanks to compost, the soil receives acidification, which has a beneficial effect on the growth and productivity of crops such as plum, apple, pear, blueberry;
• leaf compost has been used successfully as mulch.

The best option is to use deciduous tree litter, preferably fruit trees. The leaves are removed with a broom or rake. The lawn mower can be adapted for this purpose. It is also more convenient, since you will not need to grind the leaves later. To store the resulting raw materials, the leaves are crushed, tamped and placed in prepared containers. If the leaves are stored in bags, you need to make several holes for ventilation. To make compost from the leaves, which can be used as fertilizer, it takes time - at least 6 months, and it happens that the fertilizer ripens for 3 years. Unripe leaves can be used as mulch.

With many existing advantages, someone will find in the creation of such a fertilizer and disadvantages. First of all, this is the place that you need to find on the site, there is not always such an opportunity. Someone may not like the smell, which in any case will appear while the fertilizer passes all stages of maturation. In addition, the maturation of compost takes a fairly long period of time, and in order to prepare it, you also need to find certain hours and prepare the components. Of course, many do not spare either effort or time, since the result of the use of such fertilizer is always positive.

When compost is prepared, various ingredients are added to the fallen leaves. This can be cut grass, chicken droppings, cow dung, sawdust, food waste. Another important point: the leaves for composting must be free from pests or diseases. Every gardener uses their own proven composting methods. Any of the following will work.

Many summer residents prefer to lay all the components in the pit, the main thing is to do it right. There is no clear pit size. It all depends on the capabilities of the site. If the area allows, it can be 3 by 3 meters. If there is not much space, then the capacity in the ground can be miniature.The size of the pit also depends on how many crops will need to be fertilized and, accordingly, how much compost to use for this purpose. As for the depth, it can be half a meter or a meter, again, it depends on the wishes of the owners of the sites.

The ingredients are laid in the pit in layers, choosing the right ingredients. For example, first a layer of autumn leaves is laid, then of sawdust, then leaves can be again, then there is a layer of droppings, then leaves again, and then hay. Moisten each layer with water. After a month, the contents of the pit must be mixed with a shovel. This will provide the fertilizer with air and allow it to ripen faster. This procedure must be carried out once a month for at least six months. Only then can this fertilizer be put into practice. A compost pit is usually installed in the far corner of the garden or near outbuildings so that it is hidden from prying eyes and does not interfere with anyone.

Although the pit is a more thorough option, there are situations where you need to compost quickly, without spending a lot of effort and time. In this case, a place should be allocated on the site, it is advisable to protect it with at least a small fence, having thought over the gate. Leaves and food waste are placed in this space in a ratio of 5: 1. On top of the pile, you need to cover the foil so that moisture and a certain temperature are maintained inside for the correct maturation of the compost. From time to time, this hill needs to be stirred up, and if the weather is dry for a long time, it should be moistened. You can turn the pile for the first time after 3 weeks.

There are owners who find the two previous methods inconvenient. Not everyone has enough space on the site or the desire to spoil its appearance. Then you can compost in black plastic bags or purchase special compost bags. To start the process, you need to prepare large, dense garbage bags. The further principle is the same. Leaves can be mixed with selected ingredients. But you need to take into account the moment that in bags, the fertilizer ripens longer, so the leaves must be carefully chopped. To do this, you can purchase a mulcher in the All for Garden and Kitchen Garden stores. In bags, maturation can reach up to 3 years.

Another good option for a small area is using a barrel as a container for preparing fertilizer... In order not to be confused by the smell, you can cover the contents with a lid on top. But at the same time, there should be holes in it. For convenience, some make a door at the bottom, which allows you to take ready-made compost from there when it is ripe. The barrel can be placed anywhere in the garden and can even be designed to serve as a decorative element.

Weeds, chopped tree branches, dry leaves, sawdust, peat, chicken droppings, food waste can be placed in the barrel. To moisturize, you can add a little water or brew leftovers, coffee grounds daily. All this needs to be stirred up periodically. Such an environment becomes favorable for the development of worms, which has an even better effect on fertilization. Fully prepared and matured compost smells like leaves and mushrooms, it smells like wood.

It is not a problem for the gardener to find compost leaves, as trees and shrubs grow on the site.But this does not mean that everything can be thrown into a compost heap or pit. There are also certain restrictions. And, on the contrary, there are components that can accelerate the maturation of compost.

Leaves of diseased trees, waste in the form of meat and bones, fresh manure and freshly plucked weeds should not be put into compost.... As for the leaves of trees, shrubs, plants and flowers, then the opinions of gardeners differ. But there are no such critical moments that, for example, due to the presence of mimosa leaves or red-leaved hazel, the compost will be wrong or not work at all.

Some people have doubts about whether or not to throw leaves from a walnut or hazelnut. There is an opinion that these leaves are too tough, they overheat for a long time. But experienced gardeners insist that these leaves can and should be added, they contain a large amount of essential oils and other useful substances. But there is a prerequisite: before throwing these leaves in a compost pit or heap, they need to be crushed very well.

Compost using oak leaves is suitable if the soil needs to be acidified, but such a soil is not suitable for all plants, so this should be taken into account. Strawberry leaves also have an interesting feature. They rot for a very long time, so they will not be useful, but they can significantly slow down the maturation of the compost.

But birch leaves, poplars, apple trees, cherries rot very quickly and supply the mixture with useful substances. The same can be said for almost all leaves of fruit trees and shrubs. Needles of coniferous trees are also used in compost in limited quantities, but at the same time they must be crushed.

As for the leaves of vegetable crops - cabbage, beetroot, horseradish, they can also be added, but it is also recommended to grind. One has only to take into account that the roots of the same plants cannot be added, they can germinate and will only bring unnecessary problems, but not benefit. But the nettle will serve as an accelerator for decay, since it contains nitrogen in large quantities.

Gardeners recommend composting the soil during digging in the fall, when the site and plants are being prepared for winter and the coming season. You can add fertilizer directly under the roots of the plant, slightly digging up the soil and mixing with the compost. But you should act carefully so as not to damage the root system. Besides, compost can be used as mulch. To do this, it is simply laid out on the ground near the plant.

In all cases, the soil will receive nutrients, and compost will accelerate growth, improve the quality of fruits and the speed of their ripening. In general, absolutely everyone can prepare high-quality and healthy fertilizer, and even those who are taking their first steps in gardening. You can always choose your best way.

For information on how to make compost from fallen leaves, see the next video.