Composting Leaf Litter Into Black Gold

Written By Lara Wadsworth

Leaves are everywhere in the fall. The first fall season of living in my home in West Michigan I was overwhelmed with just how many leaves needed to be raked. We have many large oak trees all around us, and they drop tons of leaves. I am so glad I found out about leaf composting! Sometime in the last 50-75 years, the falling leaves of autumn have become a nuisance. A chore begrudgingly carried out by unwilling homeowners and their teenage children. How have we lost the collective knowledge that fall leaf litter is nature’s way of replenishing the soil? Pound for pound, the leaves of most trees contain more minerals and nutrients for plants than manure does. Do not let that go to waste! Composting leaves is easy and doesn’t require much special equipment. With only a few maintenance tasks over the winter, you can have FREE, high-quality soil amendments for your garden come spring. Let’s dive in.

Benefits of Composting Leaves

Improves Soil Nutrients

The biggest reason to start composting leaves is to improve the soil. Leaf compost is high-quality organic matter that is vital for replacing nutrients in the earth for plants to draw from. If you are an organic gardener looking to reduce your use of synthetic fertilizers, you undoubtedly need to look into leaf composting.

Builds Soil Structure

In addition to replacing nutrients, it is also a significant contributor to improving soil structure. So, if you have soil that has poor drainage or too much drainage (i.e., sandy soils), adding compost is an excellent way to even that out and help the soil retain the right amount of water for your plants to thrive.

Encourages an Active Microbiome

Leaf compost is supercharged with beneficial organisms of all shapes and sizes that do a wide range of things, including keeping pests and diseases at bay, improving nitrogen fixation, and removing heavy metals from the soil.

Lastly, it is a free way to get all those leaves off your lawn and into something that will benefit your landscape rather than smother it.

Types of Leaves

To be clear, you can compost any kind of leaf, even needles from conifers like pine and spruce. However, some types of leaves compost faster than others, and there are a few other factors to consider as well. The leaves that will be the easiest and fastest to compost are maple, birch, ash, and fruit trees (prunus) leaves. Other types that are still compostable but may take a bit more time and attention include oak, beech, and holly. These leaves are thicker and contain higher amounts of a compound called lignin which makes them tougher than the others. Pine needles are a great option for composting too. However, they have a higher pH than other types of organic matter and, in high amounts, can impact the soil pH. This can be good if you are growing things like blueberries that prefer acidic soil conditions. However, if you do not want acidic soil, be sure to mix in lots of different types of leaves with the pine needles when composting. The last one I want to mention is Black Walnut. Black walnut tree leaves contain a compound that is toxic to other plants. You can still compost these leaves, but they may take many years to be safe to use rather than 1-2 years like the others.

A Note About Oat Leaves - I have heard from many gardeners, particularly those of the older generation for some reason, claim that you should not compost oak leaves because they are bad for the soil or have too much acidity or something along those lines. This misconception comes from a few truths that have spiraled into falsehoods, and I know for a fact that it is false. I have seen some information online about how they can clump together and how they can slow compost piles down because they have tannins in them. While this may be true, if you have a healthy compost heap with a good mix of all the essentials (see below) and you aerate it frequently enough, you shouldn’t have any problems. Compost those oak leaves! They make a great addition to soil.

Composting Basics

Composition

You want a mix of ‘brown’ and ‘green’ matter. Leaves, cardboard, and similar things fall under brown matter. The green matter is any freshly pulled plants, kitchen scraps, and grass clippings. Green matter is high in nitrogen and needs to be balanced out with brown matter. The ratio you want to aim for is 30 parts brown to 1 part green. That might sound like a lot, but that’s because it is. One of the biggest causes of compost piles going wrong is when there is too much green matter. This can attract pests and cause the compost pile to smell terrible. A healthy compost pile should smell like warm dirt, not the bottom of an old trash bin.

Aeration

This is where the blog could get really sciency. All you need to know is that in order for the good microorganisms to stay in balance and do their work, they need air. Without enough air, the microorganisms will get out of balance and start to stink and take longer to decompose into usable compost. So, you need to mix up your compost heap regularly. Use an auger tool, a pitch fork, or anything you have that can allow you to dig deep in there and mix it up. You should turn it about once a week.

Moisture

In order for decomposition to occur properly, there needs to be a good amount of moisture. Use a hose and wet the compost pile when needed. You want the pile to be about as wet as a damp sponge that doesn’t drip any water. You will want to then add water whenever you add a large amount of brown matter and then again anytime it seems dry in-between those times.

How to Start Composting

It is easy to get this process started. All you need is a bit of space and time! Choose a spot in your yard that will be out of the way. The site should be well-drained with partial sun. You don’t need any equipment, but many gardeners find that having some kind of structure, such as 2x4s nailed into a cube and lined with chicken wire, is helpful for containing the heap. I recommend a metal trash can with holes drilled into it for smaller yards. Make sure there is a lid if you have rodents in your yard, and plan to compost kitchen scraps. Simply fill your chosen receptacle with leaves in the correct ratio (as listed above), wet it down, mix it up, and wait! Mix it every so often, especially if you are continually adding things to it. For thicker leaves such as oak or beech, it will be much easier and faster if you run them through a lawn mower or mulcher first.

Composting Tips and Tricks

Heat - Compost piles generate heat. That is one of the ways you know that it is doing what it is supposed to. Sometimes the cold temperatures of winter can hinder that progress. If you are concerned about this happening to your compost pile, you can insulate it with tarps, a layer of straw, or other similar tools. Just be sure to remove them and mix up the pile. Aeration is crucial for maintaining a proper balance.

Leaf Mold - Looking for an even easier way to compost leaves? You can play the long game with leaf mold! Simply pile up your leaves in a forgotten corner somewhere and wait 2-4 years. This slow decomposition method utilizes fungi rather than bacteria. It results in leaf mold rather than true compost. It is just as beneficial to the soil as compost is!

Composting leaves is more than a gardening practice; it's an embrace of nature's cycles. It reflects an understanding that the garden is part of a larger ecosystem where waste is a resource, and every element plays a role in the health of the whole. So, as you watch the leaves cascade from the trees this fall, see them for what they truly are—a gift from nature. Gather them, compost them, and let them nourish your garden, closing the loop in the natural cycle of growth, decay, and renewal. Your plants will thrive, your soil will flourish, and you will have taken a meaningful step toward sustainable gardening. Happy Composting!

Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer

I am a native of Southwestern Michigan, where I also reside, and I love all things plants! I got a Bachelor's Degree in Horticulture and found the first work-from-home job I could get. Now, I spend my days writing for TLM, playing with my dog, eating delicious food with my husband, and plotting my next landscape or gardening move. I believe everyone should get down and dirty in the soil now and then. Happy Gardening!