Composting leaves is easy and good for the environment, as well as a great source of free organic material for your garden.

Prepare the compost pile in layers. Organic material, such as leaves mixed with grass, are put down in layers eight-to-ten inches deep. To this layer, add moisture so that the layer is wet but not soggy. To the top of this layer, add two inches of composted manure, or if you prefer, a compost starter or fertilizer can be used instead of manure. If you use a 10-10-10 fertilizer, the rate is one cup for every 25 square feet of surface. To this, add an inch of garden soil over the surface to ensure that the pile is inoculated with decomposing microbes. If commercial compost starters are used, there is no need for additional soil.

Repeat the sequence of adding organic material, fertilizer, and soil until the pile is completed. Don't forget to water each layer. A good tip to remember is that the smaller the pieces of organic material, the faster they will turn into useful compost. Grinding leaves with a lawn mower works very well. Twigs less than one-quarter inch in diameter can also be composted.