Question
I have many gamble oak trees that surround my property that produces loads of dropped leaves.  I want to compost these leaves instead of bagging them for the landfill.  A neighbor says that the leaves do not break down but I know they must.  I've started a leaf compost with leaves that have been broken down by a lawn leaf vacuum but it has been a few months in the pile, and sure enough, they don't seem to be breaking down much.  I have to pick them up as it can be a fire hazard to our area.  (Manitou Springs, CO) I am not satisfied that I have to bag them to send off to the landfill.  is there something else I could be doing to help them break down into compost better?

Thank You,
Lori Abrams

Answer
Oak leaves, whole, have tannic acid a preservative in them so they do take time to start getting digested by the soil bacteria. If they are shredded, made into smaller, bite size bits, the soil bacteria can chomp on them easier and will digest them quicker. In my compost bins the oak leaves from last fall, shredded, are digested now and in August the oak leaves I put down for mulch on the planting beds, also shredded, will be digested by the soil bacteria. It is the tannic acid that makes whole oak leaves tough to digest.

Add nitrogen (such as a cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 25 square feet). This will help break down the oak leaves. It抯 also important to keep your compost pile moist. Dry material does not decompose well. If you have a long period without rain, water the compost bin when you water the garden. Decomposing plant materials create heat. Expert composters often use special thermometers to monitor the temperature at the center of the compost pile. Home gardeners usually just stick their hands into the pile and see if it feels pleasantly warm. If the pile is cold, add more green material.