Special Fall Column for the Salisbury Post
Darrell Blackwelder
September 24, 2001
The dull doldrums of summer gardening are giving sway to the brilliance of fall. Black gums and a few dogwoods are peaking through the green forest foliage with a brilliant red sparking the beginning of autumn.Leaves will begin to give us a colorful show in a few weeks followed quickly by the laborious task of leaf removal. Now is the time to consider installing a composting structure to utilize the onslaught of fallen leaves. Composting leaves and other plant material adds vital nutrients to the soil, aids in conserving moisture, improves the physical properties of the soil, and reduces weed competition. Leaves and other yard wastes are banned from the Rowan County Landfill making composting a viable alternative for homeowners. Composting fallen leaves is an easy process that gardeners have been implementing for years. It simply involves the decomposition of organic materials including: leaves, kitchen scraps, grass clippings, spent vegetable plants and other organic material. The end product is a soil amendment similar to peat moss.
Most tree leaves and organic materials can be composted, but there are exceptions such as pine needles.Pine needles break down very slowly as well as citrus rinds, corncobs, and pecan shells. Meat scraps should not be used in a compost pile because they attracts unwanted animals such as skunks or opossums. Spent leaves and other organic material, along with soil and fertilizer, are piled into a large compost "sandwich".Form a layer of leaves 10 inches and then add an inch or two of topsoil and a sprinkling of grade fertilizer. Organic growers can substitute manure for grade fertilizer. Microbes within the soil accelerate the decomposition of leaves and other material. Organic fertilizer companies have packaged bacteria and other microorganisms that specifically break down organic materials. Granular or organic fertilizer supplies nitrogen which then feeds the microbes. Lime may also be added when the composting operation is completed.Avoid adding lime at the beginning of the operation since lime converts the nitrogen to a non-usable form that cannot be used by microbes. Leaves shredded through a mower or chipper will expedite the decomposition process. Large leaves such a maple and some oak leaves break down quicker when shredded.Green materials from the garden are difficult to shred in a shredder.We tried to shred spent vegetable plants in a power shredder at the West End Community Park and it was a nightmare.Extremely green and moist plants are best simply added to the pile. Compost materials can be processed in different types of structures during the decomposition process. The structures can be constructed with wire or pressure treated lumber, or more sophisticated styles rangerto photoelectric drums that automatically turn composting material. Most home gardeners locate compost piles or bins in low visibility areas, usually near the family vegetable garden.
Compost piles should be turned occasionally to prevent unpleasant odors and hasten decomposition. Turning also exposes unwanted weed seeds, insects and pathogens to high temperatures. The center of an actively decomposing pile should reach 150-160 degrees to complete the process. The final product from the compost pile will be brown and earthy, similar to peat moss. Using a wire screen mesh to sift materials works very well. Composting usually takesone season to a year to complete, depending on weather conditions and material to be composted. The more you turn your pile, the quicker the process. Homeowners should use the material as soon as possible to make room for more composting material from the upcoming season. Information on composting techniques and structures will be presented at the Master Gardener Field Day on Saturday, October 20 at the West End Horticultural Park on Brenner Avenue in Salisbury. The site has a working composting structure and wire screen.
Rowan County's Department of Environmental Services purchased a number of plastic composting bins called the "Earth Machine" for a composting workshop last October. There are about 25 of the units left for sale. The 80gallon capacity bins are a great size for backyard composting. Because there is a limited quantity of composting units available please contact Environmental Services at 704-638-3078 for more information.