Shredding waste for composting

[Moniker1]

Any suggestions on how to chop dead leaves for composting?

[Ferguson]

Dead leaves to make 'leaf mould' is a different chemical process, as I understand it, from ordinary 'composting', which uses live, green material that bacteria breed in, generating heat.

I don't think 'leaf mould' generates any heat, and it takes MUCH longer for the material to break down.

Do you have a mechanical shredder? You could possibly mix shredded leaves with other vegetable waste, and also shredded twigs (almost like sawdust) mixed in, might heat up, if you have a large quantity of it.

Otherwise, I think putting dead leaves in plastic sacks, and waiting a VERY long time might be an option.

But go to the RHS or an allotment experts' web site for more information.

[mistlethrush]

The thing to do with those though is to make sure you put a few leaves on then normal compost (and kitchen waste) and more leaves and more normal compost etc - as long as you don't have a big lump of leaves together they'll be fine. But the alternative is certainly to make a big pile and leave them for a few years until they've rotted down.

[AnythingNotEverything]

I've seen Monty Don run the lawn mower over them, but then you have the problem of picking up all the bits.

We tend to layer like PP suggests.

[mistlethrush]

If you're running the lawn mower over them - and cutting the grass at the same time - you end up with the lawn mower picking them up and all mixed in with the grass clippings which works rather well.