How Fast Will it Compost?: A Breakdown of Leaf Types

Leaves solve a lot of common compost problems. Compost too wet? Add leaves. Compost a little smelly? Add leaves. Need more volume? Add leaves. But not all leaves are equal- and we don’t often talk about the difference from one leaf to the next.

Before we get into it, I’d like to add a disclaimer that ALL leaves will compost- some may just be a little bit better at it than others.

The Rapid Breakdown-ers

Maple, Elm, and Dogwood leaves are all going to break down quickly- likely over the course of one season. These are the leaves that are going to compost fast, or that are the best to leave on your lawn because they will lose their structure and not leave you with brown patches. This is because these leaves are highest in nitrogen and lowest in a chemical called lignin, which gives structure to leaves. You can put these in a leaf bin, you can add them directly to your compost, or you can do nothing at all and cozy up in your home with a pumpkin spice latte.

The Middle of the Road

Walnut, Hickory, and Buckeye leaves are somewhere in the middle. They won’t be as speedy to break down as a sugary maple leaf, but they aren’t going to take as long as the leaves we’ll find in the next category. These should break down within the year without added help, but likely not over the course of one season.

The Slow and Steady

Oak, Sycamore, and Magnolia leaves are highest in lignin and can be tough and rigid. They will hold their structure for the longest time and can take 2-3 years to fully decompose without a little help. Personally, I’m tasked with the bountiful leaves that fall from my oak tree each fall season. Luckily, I don’t have to bag them up each year to have the lawn of my dreams- there are other solutions.

Speeding Up the Breakdown           

If you have a leaf type that doesn’t break down as quickly as you’d like it to, one of the best things you can do is mulch it up. Mulching leaves is simpler than it sounds- I run them over with my lawnmower. You can do this at any point, but what has worked the best for me is to cover my garden beds with them over winter to allow habitat for wintering bugs and critters and to protect the roots of the perennials in my garden. In the spring, I blow them out onto the lawn and mulch them up. This puts the nutrients back into my lawn, and lets me have more time for fall festivities.

Do you have a LOT of leaves? Try making a leaf bin to stock up for your compost throughout the winter season! You can learn more about making a leaf bin here.

What type(s) of leaves do you have in your yard, and how do you best manage them?

Compost Blogger: Sam Goubeaux