How to make compost from fallen leaves. Leaf humus Compost from fallen leaves in plastic bags

» Preparations

Every garden plot grows a lot various trees and shrubs. And each of them sheds leaves in autumn. In addition, after harvesting, whole heaps of plant waste remain. Where to put all this wealth? Some gardeners just send them in the trash, some burn them. Both of these decisions are wrong. All of these ingredients can be used to make compost. However, many find reasons not to start a lawsuit with its preparation. One of the reasons is the lack of space for the construction of a pit or a piece of land for a heap. But it turns out that humus can also be prepared in bags.

Before considering how to make leaf humus in bags, you should understand the general concepts.

Compost is an artificial fertilizer made from tree leaves and plant waste.

For compost, in addition to leaves and plant waste, food waste such as cereals, fruits, vegetables, and even tea grounds can be used.

What are the benefits of compost? It is difficult to answer this question in one sentence. To understand its importance in agriculture, it is necessary to list its main advantages.

the preparation of humus saves the gardener from the problems of exporting garden plant waste, as well as some food waste;
no costs required. All components are right under your feet in the garden area;
it's environmentally friendly pure fertilizer, which is saturated with micronutrients and humus;
after making it into the soil, it becomes loose and well passes air. In other words, the soil begins to "breathe";
compost-rich soil retains moisture well;
can act as a mulch. If it is enough, then they can evenly cover a certain area of \u200b\u200bthe garden. Its presence in the beds does not allow weeds to germinate and retains the moisture of the root system of plants;
humus lying on the beds attracts birds, and sometimes hedgehogs, which save plants from harmful insects or slugs;
beneficial bacteria and fungi multiply in it, which contribute to the decomposition of organic components. Worms are bred in it, which, on the one hand, loosen the ground, and on the other, can be used for fishing;
saves the gardener to look for a place to burn;
a natural product that saves the gardener from oversaturating his site with all sorts of chemical fertilizers.

Making compost in bags is a little-used method for gardeners.

The disadvantages include:

some leaves that have flat shapes are endowed with the property of caking with each other into a dense mass, which complicates the process of decay;
rapid evaporation of moisture. To ensure the decomposition process, the compost should be watered frequently.

Having become acquainted with the advantages of compost, you can try to understand the technology of its manufacture.

Technology for the preparation of leaf humus in bags

The main component for the manufacture are fallen leaves of trees. It is recommended to prepare compost in the following sequence.

Selection and procurement of components

Leaves, grass clippings, small tree branches and other vegetable waste can serve as ingredients for cooking. The harvesting technology is the same for all methods of its laying, including cooking in bags.

The time it takes to make compost depends on the type of tree. Products deciduous trees such as birch, oak, maple and all fruit trees decompose faster. The finished product from such raw materials can be obtained in a year. Raw evergreens and conifers decompose slowly, and the aging period increases to 2-3 years.

Leaves can be collected with a hand fan rake. Such a rake does not damage the stems and roots of plants. Where there are no shrubs and trees, it is better to collect foliage with a lawn fan rake. Garden vacuum cleaners are widely used for collection.

Leaves for compost should not be diseased

They can work in suction and blowing mode. When working in suction mode, the leaves are drawn into a special collector, which is included with the vacuum cleaner. In the blowing mode, the leaves can be collected in separate piles. The vacuum cleaner is advantageous in that before sending the leaves to the collector, it crushes it. And finally, if leaves need to be collected from large lawns, it is best to use a lawn mower.

Avid gardeners buy lawn mowers or vacuum cleaners. These mechanisms are very advantageous, because they grind the food and collect it in special collections, consisting of a bag or basket. This frees the gardener from the physical labor of moving to a certain place.

Grinding

Before laying the leaves for compost, they must be crushed. If they are collected with a vacuum cleaner or lawn mower, then they are already crushed. If the collection of leaves occurs in a different way, then to grind them, you can use a special leaf chopper, called a mulcher.

Bookmark material for composting

The collected and crushed foliage is laid in places where the compost will ripen. This can be a pit, a fenced compost heap, or free-standing containers or heavy plastic bags.

The collected leaves are placed in the selected containers and lightly compacted.

To create favorable conditions for rotting leaves, oxygen is needed. Therefore, the bag should be pierced in several places.

Before you start laying the future humus in a bag, a layer from the top of the soil should be laid on its bottom. After that, the bag is filled with other components.

To speed up the process of decay, there must be enough moisture inside the bag. In addition, moisture must be maintained during the entire ripening period. Given these circumstances, plastic bags should not be tied, but left open. If too dry autumn or spring is issued, then it is recommended to moisten the leaves inside the bag with water.

Composting bags can be purchased at any gardening supply store. They must be black and solid.

The following cannot be used as components for a bookmark:

remains from animals: droppings, small bones and other meat waste;
use freshly cut and perennial weeds, as well as the remains of the root system of plants;
waste of diseased plants;
fresh manure;
waste containing toxic substances and toxins.

Nitrogen addition

To accelerate decay, it is recommended to add nitrogen-rich plants to the bag. Such plants include lawn grass, nettle, comfrey and others. If, after time, signs of decay do not appear in the compost, then nitrogen biologics should be added to its composition.

Maturation

The compost prepared in this way is left in open bags for maturation.

Rotting time can be from 1 to 2 years, depending on weather conditions.

To create uniform conditions for decay, the compost is recommended to be mixed several times during maturation.

Production fixtures

Manufacturers have set up many devices for making compost. However, their use is beneficial only in large farms. In such organizations, composts are produced in large volumes, and the use of small equipment is not rational.

For the preparation of humus in individual summer cottages, as well as in cramped conditions, it is enough to use those devices that have already been mentioned in this article.

Garden vacuum cleaner - convenient fixture to collect leaves

These devices include:

fan and lawn rakes - they are intended for collection;
garden vacuum cleaners and lawn mowers - used for collecting and grinding;
mulchers - designed for grinding.

Most gardeners know that the soil depletes over time, which means what to expect on such lands good harvest not worth it. Therefore, soil fertility should be increased annually. It will take several years to improve the soil.

Thus, compost in bags will save every gardener money and will maintain soil fertility every year.

leaf humus humus humus Humus humus soil with humus

soil fertility

collect leaves it is possible with the help of special hand-held fan rakes that do not damage neighboring plants. On a small lawn or other open space, use a lawn fan rake. Benefits of "old fashioned" hand assembled are that you can work in wet weather, which is not uncommon in autumn. Wet leaves are best for leaf humus

The advantage of using a lawn mower and a vacuum cleaner is that the leaves are shredded and collected in one place (bag or basket), saving the gardener a lot of time and physical effort. Crushed leaves decompose much faster and turn into humus. However, working with them has its own limitations: you can use the equipment only in dry weather; with wet leaves, they work not at all as efficiently; the collection of leaves with a lawn mower has to be carried out regularly, not allowing them to accumulate.

The collected leaves should be moistened, tightly laid and tamped.

Using fallen leaves

For

Special bags for preparation of leaf humus

humus

Leaves as soil fertilizer - how to use

Fallen leaves as fertilizer

Autumn fallen leaves are often collected by people with a rake and burned. It’s good if it’s outside the site, since nothing can grow at the site of the fire for several years. Such an action is unjustified, because by doing this you, firstly, worsen the environment, and secondly, deprive yourself (that is, your garden) of useful leafy fertilizer.

Many gardeners do not know for sure whether tree leaves can be used as fertilizer, believing that the leaves have already fulfilled their function. In fact, fallen leaves, even from garden trees, even from any other, are powerful top dressing, because over the season the leaves have accumulated a huge amount of nutrients and they can give them to you. You just need to be able to properly organize this process.

Use of fallen leaves as fertilizer

The benefits of fallen leaves are very great. They contain such useful elements as magnesium, potassium, iron, calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. All of them are necessary for good growth and development of plants.

There are several options for using dry leaves as a fertilizer. You can dig your garden trees along the radius of the crown, remove upper layer(about 20 cm), put leaves from the same or any other tree in the resulting hole, add a couple of glasses of chicken manure, water and lay the top layer of soil again.

In this way, you can fertilize apple trees, pears, plums, apricots, walnuts and many others fruit trees. In addition to the function of feeding, such a layer of leaves also has a warming effect, preventing the soil and tree roots from freezing during the winter cold.

Another option for using fallen leaves as fertilizer is to make compost out of them. To do this, you need either a compost pit or a deep container. Leaves should be laid and well compacted in it and left for 2 years. The readiness of the compost can be determined by the characteristic forest smell of rotted leaves. By introducing humus into the soil, you will improve its structure, provide plants useful substances.

Of course, the leaves can only be used with healthy trees. All damaged by diseases and pests must be immediately removed from garden plot.

Collection of leaves for leaf humus

In flower beds, among shrubs or other plantings collect leaves it is possible with the help of special hand-held fan rakes that do not damage neighboring plants.

On a small lawn or other open space, use a lawn fan rake. The advantage of "old-fashioned" hand assembly is that you can work in wet weather, which is not uncommon in autumn. Wet leaves are best for leaf humus because they decompose faster.

On the patio and others flat surfaces to collect leaves, use a broom or a special garden vacuum cleaner that works in two modes. By blowing air, it will help to collect the fallen leaves in a pile. Drawing in air, he will collect the leaves in a special bag, after crushing them. On large lawns, it is most convenient to use a lawn mower to collect leaves, setting the blades to the highest height.

Compost from tree leaves, features of cooking in a pit and in a bag

However, working with them has its own limitations: you can use the equipment only in dry weather; with wet leaves, they work not at all as efficiently; the collection of leaves with a lawn mower has to be carried out regularly, not allowing them to accumulate.

Preparation of leaf humus

The collected leaves should be moistened, tightly laid and tamped. For preparation of leaf humus you can use the following:

Special structures for leaves (four wooden pegs covered with metal "chicken" mesh), 1m x 1m or larger with open top
Thick plastic bags for garden waste. Pierce bags filled with wet leaves in several places, the top can be slightly twisted or even left open.
Special bags for preparation of leaf humus(sold in garden centers), see photo below.

Bags for the preparation of leaf humus. Wet leaves are left in such bags in a secluded corner of the site. Ready humus take it out and use it when you need it

Fungal cultures that decompose leaves and turn them into humus require almost no oxygen (this is one of the significant differences from making garden compost), but they do require high humidity. Mixing leaves with green grass clippings also speeds up the process.

Now all you have to do is be patient and wait. As with garden compost production, it's only hard to wait in the first year. And when the process is already established, then during the laying of a new batch of leaves, last year’s one is already ready for pre-winter mulching and other autumn work in the garden.

What leaves to use for leaf humus? In fact, any. However, remember that the time of decomposition of the leaves depends on the type of tree. Quickly (within a year) subject to compliance right conditions the leaves of most deciduous trees decompose: birch, oak, maple, hawthorn, mountain ash, hornbeam, hazel. Evergreen leaves and needles can take 2-3 years to decompose and it is especially recommended to grind such leaves in a garden vacuum cleaner, lawn mower or shredder.

The use of leaf humus

Young leaf humus is ready in 0.5 - 2 years, depending on the quality of preparation and tree species. In the young humus, in addition to the dark homogeneous soil, the skeletons of the leaves are clearly visible, sometimes whole leaves and small sticks come across. Such humus can be added to the soil on the site, in containers, dropped under plants, used as mulch, brought into recesses to level the surface of the lawn, and also used for hilling plants (for example, chrysanthemums) before sheltering for the winter.

Aged leaf humus is ready in 1.5 - 3 years, depending on the quality of the bookmark and tree species. Such humus is a dark crumbly uniform soil without inclusions. individual leaves. In addition to everything listed for young humus, aged humus is well suited for sowing seeds and growing seedlings. It is also good for home use. indoor plants, if mixed in equal parts with garden compost and fine sand or loam.

Manure obtained from pine needles, takes about 3 years to complete and is great for mulching acidophilic plants (lovers acidic soils): hydrangeas, camellias, pieris, azalea, rhododendron, heather, erica and others.

The benefits and uses of compost

Proper garden compost beneficial in every way. For plants compost applied to the soil is a good organic fertilizer, saturated with essential trace elements and humus. For soil compost is a natural conditioner: it improves the structure of the soil, loosens and retains moisture and fertilizers at the roots of plants. Spread out in a layer on the surface of the soil, compost makes an excellent organic mulch.

Leaves from trees as fertilizer for the garden

The living inhabitants of the garden appreciate compost heap deservedly. compost pit- an excellent "dining room" for birds and small insectivorous animals, as well as a place of mass habitat and reproduction of earthworms, which (along with bacteria and fungi) are actually engaged in composting processing organic matter.

Photo above: Here in the UK gardeners are encouraged to practice composting at the local council level. With significant discounts buy boxes (containers) for compost and get the information you need

What is compost

The word comes from Latin Componere and compositum and means mixture, something put together. Compost is a composition of organic matter decomposed by microorganisms. Compost used to improve soil structure, as well as fertilizer and mulch. Should not be confused garden compost with ready-made soil mixtures, which are often sold in garden centers under the name compost .

See also: compost bed for early cucumbers

Composting: The Quick (Hot) Method

If put into one pile (pit) bark, tree branches, grass clippings, leaves, annual weeds (not during flowering!) and other garden waste and leave it all for some time in a secluded corner of the garden (so as not to spoil the view), then in the end all this once something will rot and turn into a quality compost. This process will only take a few years. This is the so-called slow (cold) composting method. Unlike him, fast (hot) method of making compost takes about 4-6 months. To make compost fast, will have to be provided in compost bin or compost bin the following conditions:

availability of fresh ‘green’ materials containing nitrogen
presence of dry carbonaceous ‘brown’ materials
Availability compost accelerators
oxygen access to compost bin
constant humidity compost mixture
heat (temperature at industrial compost production reaches +85°C!)

Photo on the left: rotating compost bin - a device for quick composting at home. According to the manufacturers, receiving finished compost in such a container maybe in 2-4 weeks. Fast Cooking compost provided with an even distribution compost mix container, moisture and heat. The gardener will only need to rotate twice a day compost bin with a special pen

How to make compost

Install compost device(see below) in a designated area of the garden.
Lay down approx. 20 cm ‘brown’ material for drainage and ventilation.
Add to compost, evenly alternating: crushed dry ‘brown’ materials(branches of trees and shrubs, paper, cardboard, sawdust, bark, straw, hay, shavings, wood ash, dry leaves); moisture containing ‘green’ materials(kitchen waste, cut grass, weeds, algae, tops, green manure); compost accelerators(EM effective microorganisms, special preparations for accelerating compost, rotted manure of herbivores and bird droppings, urine, already prepared compost, earthworms, garden soil, etc.). Significantly improve quality compost plants rich in useful substances: nettle, comfrey and other green manure crops, yarrow, dandelion (not roots and not flowers!) and others. The alternation of ‘green’ and ‘brown’ layers allows air to penetrate into compost heap, uniform and balanced maturation of compost in a container, and in the future - structural, fertile, proper compost . Never push or compact the contents, this will interfere with the air circulation in the compost bin. Over time, the mixture will go down and you can add waste to the container. When compost bin has already been filled to the top several times, you can stop filling it and move on to the next one.
From time to time stir and shovel the cooking compost forks for better air access and uniform humidification compost. Keep Humidity ripening compost in a box with irrigation. However, avoid standing water in compost bin. Bad smell ammonia (rotten eggs, putrefaction) from compost bin speaks of an excess of ‘green’ materials and a lack of oxygen. Add to composter‘brown’ waste and stir the mixture.

A few months later the content compost heap must acquire Brown color and the fresh, sweet smell of the earth. Compost ready for use in the garden.

Compost heap, bin or compost bin?

Benefits of open wooden box for compost in that it allows air and moisture to pass through and maintains good ventilation. compost bin can be bought at garden center or make your own from boards and metal mesh. Volume compost bin must be at least 1 cubic meter. In fact, such a device is placed in wooden frames compost heap(see photo above).

A photo: industrial compost production at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (London). Shredded garden waste is mixed with horse manure from Royal stables in Knightsbridge. The mixture is contained in huge compost heaps, regularly moistened with settled rainwater and mixed, turned over. Volume compost production in Kew is impressive: 20 tons of manure and 100 tons of garden waste are used weekly! Process composting takes 10-12 weeks. The results are also impressive: Kew recycles 99% of its own garden waste and all the resulting compost is used for the further prosperity of the botanical garden. Here is such a constant cycle of economical ecological production! All this is presented to the attention of visitors to the botanical garden. Here you can also get detailed instructions on making compost in your own garden

What else can you put in compost?

Raw vegetables, fruits, cereals
Tea and coffee
Remains of cooked food, meat waste (only in closed compost bins!)
Unpainted and untreated chipped wood
Fresh herbivore manure and bird droppings (only in slow compost heaps)
Bird feathers and down, pet hair
Paper: tissue paper, shredded newspaper*, printer paper*, packaging, cardboard
Shredded natural fabrics*: cotton, silk, linen, wool, etc.
Evergreens (only in slow compost heaps)

What Not to Put in Garden Compost

Large and hard meaty bones
Feces of humans and carnivores (including domestic animals). For safe composting human feces need special compost toilet . Dog feces can be recycled into compost systems with worms. Cat feces are generally not recommended for composting
Ash from burning coal in a stove or fireplace
Flowering, seeded and perennial rhizomatous weeds
Garden waste affected by diseases and pests
Insect pests, their eggs and larvae
Garden waste from the use of herbicides (unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer)

* In the EU and US, newspapers and other printed materials have been free of heavy metals and other harmful ink additives for decades. Newspaper recycling compost recommended here by leading environmental organizations ( HDRA Garden Organic and etc.). The same applies to fabrics. If you are in doubt about the composition of paints in your country, do not add these materials to compost

Material and photos: Oksana Jeter, CountrysideLiving.net

Compost in a bag: step by step instructions

Many summer residents have already got used to making compost with their favorite method. Someone digs a hole, someone makes a pile, which they then cover, someone allocates a special place and builds a large wooden box.

If you're short on time or want to try a new and less labor-intensive method, then bagged compost can be a great alternative. The fact is that such compost is prepared quickly and easily, and its main advantage is its cheapness. All you need to buy is bags - thick and black. These bags are durable heavy rains and even frost. Gardeners recommend taking larger bags, with a volume of 120 or 250 liters.

What can be put in bags?

Grass and any kind of plants (that is, tops, leaves, hay, and so on);

Food waste and egg shells

Weeds with soil

sawdust, wood.

What should not be bagged?

Chemistry and chemicals

How to fill bags?

Try to fill them in layers. Pack firmly into each layer. Periodically add garden soil to the bags. You can also pour a jar of weekly aged herbal infusion. Once the bags are full, tie them up. Pierce with forks from the sides.

Three secrets of success

1. The soil to be added to the bags. 2. Humidity - that is, from time to time, while you fill the bags with grass, weeds and waste from the kitchen, add water or herbal infusions. 3. Air - it will appear when you pierce the bags with a pitchfork.

Leaf litter as fertilizer for the garden

Once a week, at first, try to turn the bags over if possible so that they do not stale.

When will this compost be ready?

After 3 months, the compost will reach half-readiness. It can be poured under berry bushes and fruit trees, also flower beds with perennials.

But this is still unripe compost. If you want real rotted compost, then leave the bags until next spring or summer. And then you open the bag and see completely loose and black soil, smelling of black soil!

Manure is not always available, and soil-improving organics are quite expensive. Therefore, garden compost is used as a source of organic matter. Composting allows you to quite cheaply and effectively convert kitchen waste and personal plot into a valuable material that enriches the soil with nutrients.

Composting

For cooking good compost crumbly, finely lumpy structure, the compost heap is laid in such a way that, without turning into a pile of rotting garbage, it ensures the fastest decomposition of organic matter. Intensive decomposition of the starting materials under the action of bacteria and fungi is possible only in the presence of air, moisture and nitrogen. Air enters through the base and side walls of the pile. If signs of drying appear, the mass is moistened with a watering can or from a watering hose; moisture is usually retained by covering the pile with burlap, old rags, or plastic wrap. Nitrogen sources can be manure, compost activator or nitrogen fertilizers. This creates conditions for the activity of bacteria and fungi, which provide decomposition processes.

The compost heap is best placed in a location protected from the wind. shady place, at some distance from trees and areas where their roots can penetrate. Compost maturation takes time.

compost bin

The device of a compost heap on the ground in the selected corner of the garden plot allows you to achieve the required degree of decomposition of its contents. But over time, the pile loses its original shape, and its surface dries up. Decomposition can be accelerated by placing the compostable material in a compost bin that provides Free access air and retain moisture. Its height should not exceed 1.2 m. Optimal dimensions 2.5— 3×1.2×1.2 m

There are many ways to make a compost bin. The simplest of them is the fencing of the selected place with a net stretched over four strong supports dug into the ground. For the convenience of unloading decomposed compost, the front wall is made sliding. In compost bins large sizes for the base, they lay a “floor” of twigs or deadwood or place a support grate of short planks laid on bricks. This ensures the penetration of air to the composted material. To preserve moisture, the walls of the box are lined from the inside with old newspapers, and the compost is covered with burlap or plastic wrap, crushing with a brick.

For a more durable container, use pillars sheathed at the corners with iron, and wooden bars, which are nailed at some distance from one another, which provides air access. Interior decoration similar to the previous design. When constructing brick or block containers, leave a few non-cemented vertical seams for air to enter. It is desirable to make the front wall of containers in the form of a movable wooden lattice,

On the large plots It is convenient to use two or three compost bins. Having filled one of them, they leave it and, while the process of decomposition is going on there, fill the other. This approach provides the gardener with a constant supply of compost.

The compost bins produced by the industry are also very diverse. Some of them are equipped with movable walls for compost extraction and various coatings retaining moisture. When buying, you should check the strength of the box and choose the right size, taking into account the required amount of compost and its decomposition time.

Compostable materials

To make good compost, use any kitchen and garden waste on hand, which, however, must be thoroughly mixed. The more diverse the material introduced into the compost, the faster its decomposition proceeds. Weeds (not treated with herbicides), mowed grass, potato peelings, tea leaves, crushed eggshell, urine and slurry, scraps of newspapers, young foliage after cutting hedges, fallen inflorescences, pea pods, stems and leaves of vegetables, foliage of trees and shrubs. All components are well mixed. Do not add to compost wood material and crop residues that have been sprayed with herbicides or have been attacked by diseases and pests.

Bookmark compostable materials

The prepared box must be filled correctly. A layer of compostable material 15-25 cm thick is placed on the surface of the soil or on top of a false humus floor, if it is provided, and lightly tamped down with a pitchfork or a rake base. Then sprinkle it with ammonium sulfate at the rate of 20 g/m2 and lay the next layer of compostable material. After filling the box, the compost pile is covered with burlap or plastic wrap, and if it dries out, the top cover is removed and the pile is moistened so that the composting process is not interrupted. A layer of ammonium sulfate is alternated with a layer of lime, which neutralizes the acidic reaction of the former. Avoid mixing ammonium sulfate and lime in the same layer. Sometimes compost activator or manure is applied between the layers, eliminating the possible contact of manure with fertilizers or lime. Otherwise it will happen chemical reaction, which will release valuable nitrogen into the atmosphere. To cover a filled container instead of burlap or polyethylene film you can pour a layer of soil about 5 cm thick.

GREEN MANURE

Growing certain cults on the site and incorporating their green mass into the soil to enrich it with nitrogen and improve the structure is called green manure (green manure). Rapeseed, annual lupine, mustard and perennial ryegrass are used as green manure. In spring or early summer, green manure seeds are evenly scattered over the soil surface. Plants grow very quickly, close them in the soil just before flowering. To eliminate a temporary lack of nitrogen, when planting plants, powdered ammonium sulfate is added to the soil at a dose of 35 g / m3. In the absence of plants, it will help bacteria convert nitrogen bound in the form of organic compounds into mineral. Sometimes green manure is sown immediately after harvest - in early autumn or early spring.

Then the container is left and, if necessary, proceed to fill the next one.

Use of compost

In a well-designed and filled bin, the compost does not need to be turned, since the laid material is already effectively decomposed. In spring and summer, maturation proceeds faster than in autumn and winter. Compost when laying in warm weather usable after six months. The state of the heap is periodically checked and, if possible, the ripened compost is removed from the base. The finished compost is brown in color and has a crumbly, finely cloddy texture. Undecomposed material serves as the basis for laying the next pile. Mulching is carried out only with well-ripened compost, since partially decomposed weed seeds capable of germinating can be preserved. Compost is incorporated into the soil during its cultivation in autumn and winter at the rate of 5.5 kg/m2.

leaf humus

Leaves shed by trees and shrubs, decomposing, enrich the soil with humus.

Fall leaf compost

To prepare leaf humus, it is convenient to use a mesh box (the same as for compost), each layer of foliage 13-20 cm thick is moistened with ammonium sulfate solution. In autumn, layers of foliage and fertilizer are also placed in black, perforated (for air) bags, which do not take up much space. Tied bags are left in a remote corner of the garden, and by spring humus forms in them. Leaves left in open boxes on fresh air, take longer to decompose. For composting, the foliage of any deciduous trees and shrubs is used. Sycamore, poplar and maple leaves take longer to decompose than oak and beech leaves. The leaves of evergreens are unsuitable for the preparation of humus. Leaf humus is embedded in the soil or used as mulch (see pages 14-17).

Making compost from leaves is easy. Here the main thing the right approach. Many people think that after the leaves have fallen, they are no longer suitable for anything, and they just need to be taken to a landfill. But is this true? Is there any benefit from fallen leaves? We will find out in our article.

If you are a real gardener, then you always look at your garden from a professional point of view. Leaves can always be thrown away. But how to make foliage beneficial?

Why do you need compost?

Compost from tree leaves is needed in order to retain moisture in the soil, improve the quality of the land and its composition. Bringing the leaves from planting to your garden, and putting them in a pile, you will provide yourself with humus for a long time. After all, it can be stored for a very long time.

If you have a lot of trees in your garden, then you will always be provided with raw materials for compost. If there are few or no trees in the garden, then you need to go to the forest or planting.

Using garden compost is very beneficial:

The foliage contains a huge amount of organic matter, so necessary for the soil.
Compost contains and minerals that enrich the soil.
The composition of compost is very close to manure; nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium - all these elements nourish the earth and provide an excellent harvest.

In order to properly make compost from fallen leaves, you do not need special skills or skills. You just need to follow the recommendations:

1. First make a pile of leaves. This is necessary in order not to mix them with other vegetation residues in the garden. Foliage has its own specifics of decomposition. It takes two years for it to completely decompose and be used as compost.

The leaves of some trees need even more time, such as oak, chestnut. Other vegetation takes a year to decompose.

2. After the leaves are piled up, they must be compacted and moistened.

3. Add to the foliage not a large number of ready-made compost, as well as a little lime in order to balance the acid balance.

4. In case you need compost for plants that prefer acidic soil, then lime does not need to be added.

6. Periodically look under the cover and, if necessary, moisten the pile.

7. Another option is to use plastic bags. Holes are made in them for ventilation, and after that the bags are densely filled with foliage.

Compost pit how to do it right

Some gardeners prepare compost using the compost pit method. How to make compost from leaves in this way?

1. Dig a hole thirty centimeters deep and about two and a half meters wide.

2. Make bedding at the bottom of the hole five centimeters thick.

3. Fold dry foliage in layers, watering it with saltpeter to moisten.

4. After laying ten centimeters of foliage, sprinkle it with turf to enrich it with microelements and microflora.

5. Pour the next layer of leaves and pour the liquid from the manure, you can add the earth from your garden.

6. The next leafy layer must be moistened using caustic soda. It is not a fertilizer, but it is good at extracting chlorophyll from the leaf.

7. Wood ash is poured onto the next layer of leaves, then leaves again, which are moistened with water.

8. Place a layer of straw or hay and water weak solution manganese (1 percent).

9. All this structure is covered with turf, which is laid down tightly with grass.

10. One month after laying the pit, open and loosen all layers for oxygen enrichment.

11. It is possible to use two holes: one for laying, and the second for loosening. You simply transfer the compost to the second hole, loosening the mixture in the process.

Benefits of dried leaves

It is worth noting that dry foliage is useful not only for compost. It is often used by gardeners for various purposes. For example, often gardeners use dry foliage in the preparation of beds.

If you mix the leaves with hay, then this mixture will provide heat to the root system of the plant and protect it from hypothermia. But this is done exclusively with dry leaves. Store them in crates or boxes indoors.

Also, dry foliage is used as a mulch for bushes and fruitful trees. Mulch is also used in beds. In a compost pit, dry leaves are used as bedding on the bottom.

Still very useful property dry leaf is to serve as a heater for plants that are planted for the winter. For example, garlic.

Having landed it in the beginning of autumn, garlic covered with dry foliage at the beginning of winter. Snow covers the foliage, and the plant safely tolerates any frost, and in the spring it pleases with a wonderful harvest.

So before throwing leaves from your garden, think about how useful this pile of leaves can do.

In many sources, it is recommended to rake all the fallen leaves from the garden after the leaf fall is completed so that it does not serve as a source of pests and diseases in the new season. Some burn fallen leaves, others take them outside suburban area. But this natural material can be successfully applied to the benefit of the garden and flower garden, namely, to cook from autumn foliage great compost. After all, few summer residents can boast of an excess amount, which are the main nutritional element of all plant crops. In this, only the villagers who keep poultry and livestock, and, accordingly, constantly receive a sufficient amount to fertilize their plantings. Therefore, for the rest, sheet compost can be an excellent alternative. He cannot boast of nutritional value, however, it perfectly improves the structure of the soil, increases its moisture capacity and does not require special labor costs during preparation, since in the fall a large amount of fallen leaves is available at a time. Even diseased tree leaves will not be able to cause any damage to vegetable and flower crops, because during decay, all pathogenic microflora dies, and besides, their diseases are completely different.
Autumn leaves have a fairly dense structure, and therefore it takes a lot of time to decompose. Depending on the type of tree from which the foliage was taken, the readiness of this may occur in 1.5-3 years. However, if you fix this process and annually in the fall to lay a new batch of leaves for composting, you can always have valuable organic fertilizer. To do this, it is advisable to equip three compost bins on the site: in the first there will be freshly laid compost, in the second - ripening, and in the third - ready for use.
For these purposes, you can build wooden and metal compost bins, purchase special plastic containers and also use strong plastic bags large capacity, in which it will be necessary to make several holes for air access. In addition to this, now garden shops there were special packages for the preparation of leaf humus.
Fallen leaves are raked, moistened with water if the leaves are dry, and placed in portions in the intended place, layered with earth and carefully rammed. In order for the composting process to go faster, it makes sense to prepare a solution of any nitrogen fertilizer(20-30 g of the drug per 10 liters of water) and moisten the leaves with it. An alternative to nitrogen preparations can be freshly cut lawn grass, which is poured into a compost bin along with layers of earth, or a variety of plant residues from vegetable tops to kitchen waste. It is worth remembering that leaf humus at the exit will have an acidic reaction, therefore, to neutralize it, it is necessary to evenly pour wood ash into the compost bin, dolomite flour or chalk. Also, to accelerate the decay of all components, you can use modern biological preparations, which include living microorganisms.

After laying all the components in the compost bin, the future compost is covered with a film and in the future they make sure that it is constantly wet. In addition, the ripening mass should be thoroughly mixed 2-3 times per season in order to ensure sufficient air exchange for earthworms and microorganisms, which will just process the leaves into a homogeneous loose mass and accelerate the maturation of this natural fertilizer.
Young compost can also be applied to beds and used as mulching material. In this case, its ripening will take place already in the garden or in the flower garden, so it is advisable to carry out this procedure in the fall so that by the new season the decomposition processes of the leaves have ended and they have turned into humic compounds useful for plants.
The maturity of a leaf is easy to determine by its smell - it will begin to thin out the pleasant aroma of forest land. It should not contain skeletons of not completely decomposed leaves or even whole leaf plates. At this stage, it will no longer be possible to determine which ingredients were put into the compost bin. When ripe, the mass acquires a very loose and uniform structure.
There is another sign that indicates the complete readiness of this organic fertilizer. If at the beginning of the process of decomposition of leaves and other organic matter, a large number of worms can be found in the compost bin, then when the compost is completely overheated, the worms completely leave such a place, since there is no food left for them.
Sheet compost will be especially useful for those summer residents who have plots on light sandy or heavy clay soils. In addition, this substrate can be successfully used for growing seedlings of all crops.
Kudrina Irina