Shredding waste for composting

[Moniker1]

Any suggestions on how to chop dead leaves for composting?

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.

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.

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.

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.