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A very basic composting question

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lilmac442 Joined: 10/29/2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1687	Posted: Nov/11/2007 10:58 PM PST We have acquired a large yard, with over 2 mowable acres. Unfortunately, the yard was no longer mowed as of mid summer. And the oodles of trees have dumped a thick layer of leaves all over it. Good news is in the past two weeks we have raked and mowed several times and it looks great. We now have a HUGE amount of lawn clippings and shredded leaves. Now DH has a spot probably 20' X 30' all worked up and dumped probably two foot of the lawn waste on top. He then went back over it with the rototiller and worked all that into the soil. (He has a big John Deere with a 5 foot rear tiller) I have a smaller 10 X 12 area that I have just piled everything about 4 ft deep. I asked that he leave it so it could compost naturally. I thought it might process faster on top of the soil. (altho I did layer a bit of soil through it) I guess my question is- will it break down above ground better or below? Quote \| Reply \| Report

KeyWee Joined: 11/29/2006 Location: West Kentucky Posts: 1752	Posted: Nov/12/2007 11:37 AM PST Don't know if this will answer your question or not. But when I lived in WI, I always did just what you said you plan to do. Dumped all my leaves and stuff on top of the garden and just let it sit all winter. Then I tilled it in when spring arrived, just before planting. I was finally getting some good soil texture out of this whole process when we decided to move to KY. Oh, and I also tossed kitchen waste (coffee grounds, veggie peels, eggshells, out on top all winter too ~ can't hurt. Quote \| Reply \| Report

yardgranny6 Joined: 7/05/2007 Location: Posts: 4556 Moderator	Posted: Nov/12/2007 3:49 PM PST I've done the same thing KeeWee and that even before the Master Gardener class. Works every time. Linda B from SC Quote \| Reply \| Report

lilmac442 Joined: 10/29/2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1687	Posted: Nov/12/2007 6:20 PM PST Sounds good to me! I have a large plastic coffee can that I keep the grounds and egg shells in, that I can take out to dump. I found a couple of old straw bales to break up and add. Its like a composting scavenger hunt. Quote \| Reply \| Report

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