Can You Compost Leaves?
Yes. Fallen leaves are the most useful brown most gardeners have, roughly 40–80:1 C:N. Shred them first; whole leaves mat together and can take a year or more to break down.
At a glance
| Home compost pile | Yes |
|---|---|
| Green or brown | Brown (carbon-rich) |
| Carbon to nitrogen | about 40–80:1 (approximate) |
| Moisture | Dry |
| Prep | Shred or tear |
| Worm bin | Yes |
| Bokashi | No |
How to compost leaves
Run a mower over leaves or use a shredder before adding them. Use them at about 2–3 parts leaves to 1 part greens by volume. Bag extra leaves in autumn and keep them by the bin as cover for kitchen scraps all year.
Surplus leaves can become leaf mold: pile or bag them damp and leave them for a year or two. See composting leaves.
What goes wrong
A pile of only leaves sits for a long time because it lacks nitrogen. Mix in greens such as grass clippings, coffee grounds or kitchen scraps, and water until it's as damp as a wrung-out sponge. Whole wet leaves form flat mats that shed water, so break them up.
Worm bins and bokashi
Worm bin: Shredded, aged leaves make excellent worm bin bedding.
Bokashi: Leaves don't go in the bokashi bucket, but they're ideal for covering bokashi when you add it to a pile.
This counts as a brown. Adding a lot of it? Check the balance with the compost mix calculator.
From hopcompost.com/can-you-compost/leaves/ · General guidance, not professional advice.
Frequently asked questions
Which leaves shouldn't you compost?
Keep out leaves from diseased plants and poison ivy. Black walnut leaves contain juglone and are best composted separately and aged. Tough leaves like magnolia and holly are fine but slow, so shred them.
Do leaves make compost acidic?
Not noticeably. Many leaves are slightly acidic when fresh, but finished compost tends toward neutral.
Should I shred leaves before composting?
Yes, if you can. Shredded leaves break down much faster and don't mat. A lawn mower with a bag attachment does the job.