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If you have an oak tree on your property, you’re likely familiar with the leaves piling up on your grass at the end of fall. This raises the question, what should you do with the leaves. Are oak leaves good for composting?
Oak leaves are ideal for turning into compost. They are rich in nitrogen, making them a good source of nutrients for plants. But their strong structure means that they can take a while to decompose naturally. Because of this, you’ll need to shred the leaves before adding them to the compost.
Oak leaves might add some complications when you are trying to compost them. The robust structure can take a while to break down. But there are a few simple tips you can use to make composting easier. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know to compost oak leaves successfully.
Why Do Some People Recommend Avoiding Adding Oak Leaves to Compost?
People have two primary concerns about using oak leaves for compost. These are; the high tannins in the leaves and the acidity they contain. Thankfully, you don’t need to worry. Here are some reasons why oak leaves are unlikely to harm your compost.
First, the tannins in the leaves evolved as a defense mechanism to stop other animals from eating them. They created a foul taste that the other animals couldn’t stand. This doesn’t mean that the oak leaves are toxic. When composted, they will be harmless to the plants in your garden.
The other persistent myth is that oak leaves are too acidic. Anything that is strongly acidic can damage your garden, particularly if you have plants sensitive to changes in the pH level. When they fall from the tree, oak leaves are initially highly acidic, with a pH of around 4.5
. But the pH level will return to neutral as they decompose.
But this isn’t the case when you are composing oak leaves. A study from Michigan State University applied oak leaf compost to a grass plot for six seasons. They discovered that it didn’t have any impact on the pH level.
Benefits of Composting Oak Leaves
There are no reasons why you should avoid adding oak leaves to your compost pile. But there are a few benefits that you can gain from mulching. These include:
- Controlling soil temperatures. Oak leaves, when composted, can help you manage the impact of temperature on your plants. This can protect during the summer months, stopping your plants from overheating.
- Retaining water. Compost will allow you to keep moisture locked into the soil. This reduces the amount that you need to water, preparing your garden for drought conditions.
- Adding soil structure. As we’ll discuss later, oak leaves can be slow to break down. Because of this, it can add some structure to the soil. Plus, when applied to the garden, the weight of the compost will stop the nutrient-rich topsoil from getting removed by strong winds.
- Suppressing weeds. Returning to the Michigan State University study results, shredded oak leaves were able to prevent weeds from occurring in the grass plot.
- High in nutrients. One of the biggest reasons you might want to consider adding oak leaves to your compost is the number of nutrients they contain. They are high in nitrogen. They can have as much nitrogen as cow manure. This is an essential nutrient for strong plant growth.
Composting Diseased Leaves
Generally, oak leaves are perfectly acceptable for composting. But there are some times when you will need to be a little cautious. This is when the leaves are showing some signs of disease. There are a few ways that you can tell your plants are diseased; these include:
- Brown marks on the leaves
- Signs of mold or fungus growing
- Sometimes, the leaves will become completely black
You don’t want the disease to spread to the rest of your garden. Because of this, you might want to destroy the leaves by burning them.
However, you might be able to compost them safely. The key is making sure that your compost pile will get hot enough to kill the disease. To do this, there are a few requirements you’ll need to follow. You’ll need to make sure that it is reaching a temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius). When it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius), you’ll need to turn the pile. This will add some oxygen, which is needed to kill the disease.
You’ll need to be able to maintain this temperature range for a minimum of 10 days. This should kill any disease, making it safe to use the leaves in your garden.
Tips for Composting Oak Leaves
One of the problems with trying to compost oak leaves is that they have a rigid structure. This means that they will take a long time to break down. There are a few things you can do to speed up the compost time. These include:
- Shred the leaves. The first step is to shred the leaves. This breaks them down, so they will decompose faster. It’s usually easiest to shred the leaves using a lawnmower. It can help to use a bag attachment if you have one. If you don’t have one, you’re going to have to rake the shredded leaves by hand. You can use a leaf blower to shred the leaves if you prefer.
- Layer the compost. The next thing to consider is how you are going to stack the compost pile. It’s best to put the leaves on the bottom. Then, stack the organic materials, like grass clippings and vegetable waste. You can add manure, but you need to ensure that it comes from an animal that doesn’t eat meat. Otherwise, you will be attracting pests and raising the possibility of disease. It’s best to have equal organic and dry materials, like oak leaves, dry grass, and newspaper.
- Water the pile. You’ll need to water the pile thoroughly. This creates a comfortable environment for worms and other microbes within the soil. Allowing them to start breaking down your compost.
- Mix regularly. Finally, you’ll need to mix the compost regularly. This introduces oxygen and keeps the beneficial bacteria alive. You’ll usually need to turn it once a week.
- Wait until the compost is ready. There are a few signs that your compost will be ready to use. First, it will turn brown. You might also find that it has a crumbly texture, like soil. If you leave the leaves whole, it can take them a long time to break down. Sometimes, as long as a year. But if you chop them beforehand, you will be able to reduce the amount of time it takes to compost. Usually, the heat of the compost pile will speed up the decomposition process. It might only take three to four weeks.
Once the compost is ready, it will be fairly easy to use. All you need to do is spread a small amount onto your garden. You don’t need a lot to see an impact. Usually, two to four inches will be all that’s needed to give your plants the nutrients they need to grow strongly.
Final Thoughts
There are a few myths about using oak leaves for compost that might cause them to be unfairly ignored. However, there is no reason why they won’t be a wonderful addition to your compost pile. They are high in nutrients like nitrogen. Plus, as long as you shred them first, they can break down fairly quickly.
Sources
- https://helpmecompost.com/compost/materials/composting-oak-leaves/
- https://archive.lib.msu.edu/tic/mitgc/article/199866b.pdf
- https://www.abchomeandcommercial.com/blog/composting-oak-leaves/
- https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/ingredients/compost-diseased-plant-leaves.htm
- https://eu.redding.com/story/life/2017/10/13/master-gardeners-compost-oak-leaves/760153001/