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Re: Compost questions...

In a message dated 97-11-08 11:27:06 EST, you write:

<< . Will fallen leaves of all varieties work as compost?

 2. Will grass cuttings work if mixed with leaves? Ratios? Mixing?

 3. Should the compost pile be covered from precipiation or does moisture
 help the process?

 Sorry for the questions that I'm sure are in the book and I'll see with a
 closer reading but we wanted to get something going in the next week. Before
 all our many leaves blow away!
  >>


Hi Bernie,
   Composting with a mix of leaves and grass along with uncooked vegie scraps
will work fine. I have a huge Maple in my side yard which provides me with
lots of leaves to compost with, plus my neighbors let me take their bagged
leaves and grass clippings when I need them. I run over my leaves with a lawn
mower to cut them into tiny pieces before putting them in one of my wire cage
compost bins. This helps speed up the breaking down process. (uncut leaves
take forever to compost) I also turn my compost several times during the
first couple of weeks (I just flip it from one bin to another) during the hot
months here in Boston to keep it at a nice hot temp while mixing the
ingredients at the same time. During the late fall and winter I will usually
let it set undisturbed until spring.
   One word of caution, when using grass clippings make sure there isn't any
weed killer being used on the lawn from which the clippings came. You may end
up with great looking soil and no plants growing.
   The compost should be kept moist but not soggy. If the pile is well made,
I wouldn't worry about too much rain, since the water will drain quickly. If
the composting seems to have slowed too much or stopped altogether after
heavy rains, give it a turn and it will probably get going again.
   I've never worried too much about the "correct" proportions of
ingredients, since I've always had finished compost in two to four or five
weeks during the summertime. I just try to keep any grass clippings I use
well mixed with other things, since grass clippings can mat and create some
problems. Perhaps I've just been lucky with my mixtures.
   Good luck.
   Jim Kirker
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