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

Fertilizing gardens and summer cottages is an important stage of spring tillage. However, the necessary set of nutrients is not always at hand; in this case, compost from tree leaves will come to the rescue. Easy to make, it will be the optimal solution.

Content:

1. Using fallen leaves as fertilizer
2. Composting leaves in a compost bin
3. How to make compost from tree leaves in 7 days
4. Is it possible to make compost from oak and walnut leaves?
5. Making compost in garbage bags

Using fallen leaves as fertilizer

With each autumn leaf fall, the problem of where to put the falling leaves becomes acute. Some simply throw away the litter or burn it, which is absolutely wrong.

The mass of leaves shed by trees contains a large amount of fiber and microelements important for the growth and development of cultivated plants, such as iron, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, magnesium, calcium and sulfur.

Properly processed foliage can be useful not only for improving soil structure, but also increasing the level of soil fertility. Fallen leaves help loosen the soil, enriching it with useful elements such as moisture and oxygen. In addition to this, earthworms often live in rotted leaves, which also contribute to loosening the substrate.

The leaves of almost any tree that grows in every region can be turned into fertilizer.Humus from walnut leaves has a particularly good effect on soils, but they can only be found in some areas.

On the contrary, you should not overuse the leaves of fruit crops, as there is a danger that they are carriers of harmful insects and diseases.

You should not throw away litter; it is a unique source of a large amount of useful substances that will help significantly improve the quality of the soil in the garden.

Composting leaves in a compost bin

The leaves are used both for mulching the soil and for making compost. The latter is known to many gardeners as a consequence of the high level of efficiency, which has a positive effect on the quality of the crop.

To carry out composting in a specially dug hole, it is recommended:

• By autumn, dig a hole no more than one and a half meters deep and one meter wide;
• Collect tree litter and place in a hole;
• Compact and fill the hole with water, then compact it again;
• Cover the resulting mixture with a twenty-centimeter layer of soil;
• To speed up composting, you can additionally add a solution of nitrogenous fertilizer.

With the arrival of spring, it is recommended to plant vegetables in the hole; by autumn, after the harvest has been harvested, it is recommended to scatter compost throughout the entire area.

It is important to remember that only forest tree litter, or those that grew far from roads, is suitable for preparing fertilizer. The fact is that the plants that grew near the highway absorbed a large amount of harmful substances, which could negatively affect the harvest.

And another way to prepare compost:

How to make compost from tree leaves in 7 days

To prepare fertilizer quickly, it is worthwhile to diversify the mixture a little; not only leaves will be useful for composting, but also hay, straw and even paper. It is recommended to grind all this thoroughly. This will ensure uniform distribution of oxygen and moisture, which ensures more productive work for compost microbes.

You can grind the components by passing them through rotary lawn mowers several times.

If you have manure or green plants on hand, you can also use them for fertilizer, after crushing them.

After this it is recommended:

• Place the resulting crushed mixture in a pre-dug hole; if it turns out to be dry, moisten it and mix thoroughly. If necessary, you can additionally moisten the mixture and do not let it dry out;
• Cover the pit with plastic to preserve heat;
• Watch the temperature change, it should start to rise on the first day;
• Systematically mix the contents of the pit to supply oxygen necessary for compost microbacteria.

By the end of the week the compost will be ready, but to be sure, it is recommended to let it sit a little longer, ideally another week. You can determine when a fertilizer is suitable for use by its temperature; it should not exceed + 38 C, otherwise it may harm the plants.

Is it possible to make compost from oak and walnut leaves?

There is an opinion that it is impossible to use walnut and oak leaves for compost, as they emit harmful substances that can spoil the fertilizer.

In fact, the foliage of these trees contains a large amount of tannins, which greatly slow down the process of decay.In addition, the aromatic components of these plants can repel some insects.

Since oak and walnut foliage rots slowly, insufficient heat will be released and the decay processes will proceed more slowly.

However, this does not mean that adding them to compost can negatively affect the quality of the crop. Plants do not feed on humus itself, but on the waste products of microorganisms living in it.

If you add oak and walnut leaves as an additional component to the compost pit, you can not only avoid harm, but also improve the quality of the fertilizer. The aromatic substances they contain will protect the fertilizer from harmful insects, and a large amount of nutrients will enrich the soil.

To say that it is impossible to use oak and walnut litter in making compost is completely wrong. Despite the large amount of tannins that slow down decay, they also contain a considerable amount of nutrients necessary for the plant during growth.

Making compost in garbage bags

Making compost in plastic bags is not only quick, but also inexpensive. The only thing you have to spend money on is garbage bags. It is important that the bags are large and the black polyethylene must be dense.

You can find the most suitable ones in hardware stores, but it is recommended to check the strength of the material on the spot, since the density level is not always indicated on the packaging; to check it, just stretch them; if they practically do not stretch, this is what you need.

Many gardeners recommend paying special attention to bags that hold 250 liters.In them, the fertilizer will not dry out, which is especially important when making compost.

After the bag is purchased you need to:

• Collect any plants, leaves, fruits and herbs. At the same time, it is important to ensure that none of them is infected with parasites or disease, since the problem can affect the entire mass of fertilizer, and then the soil into which it will be applied;
• Add food waste (potato peelings, egg shells) to the mixture.
• Add soil or weeds with soil, add cardboard, paper, sawdust. It is important that the sawdust is made from untreated wood; sleepers will not work;
• Add legume tops to increase the nitrogen level in the compost;
• Place the bags on the site and lay everything collected in layers: food waste, soil, leaves, and so on, then compact everything thoroughly and thoroughly water everything;
• Add EM preparations to the workpiece, which promote the active reproduction of microorganisms that promote rotting;
• Tie the bags tightly so that no air enters them;
• It is important to remember that during the production of organic fertilizer it is not recommended to add anything that may be associated with chemistry: soapy water, ash, chemicals.

Experienced gardeners use complex compounds of mineral and organic fertilizers. It is better to plant them in the fall, since in the spring, after long-term exposure to sub-zero winter temperatures, bacteria develop faster.

Making compost in bags is simple and inexpensive. To do this, it is recommended to purchase thick black garbage bags, collect organic raw materials and EM preparation, seasoning it all with a small amount of water.

Making compost from tree leaves with your own hands is a task that does not require much effort.It is enough to prepare the hole in advance, fill it with litter and water it with water in order to get high-quality fertilizer for the soil of the garden next spring.

Let's see how to properly prepare compost from leaves in garbage bags: