So, let’s dive into ways to speed up this process. If possible, shred the leaves prior to composting. If you build a basic compost pile, you’ll have harvestable compost from the bottom and center of the pile in three to six months. To prevent attracting pests to your compost pile and to speed up the composting process, bokashi composting is a great way to pre-compost your food waste. These help to aerate the pile, which keeps your decomposition process aerobic and quick. Oftentimes, in a backyard composting situation, our piles build slowly, and that leads to our ingredients taking a little longer, than we may like, to break down. Turn your pile 1-2 times a week. Commercial compost accelerators often contain both nitrogen and a mixture of bacteria and fungi to get to work quickly on your compost … Adding compost accelerator to your pile will add a boost of microbes to help the composting process. They also help create air spaces (see “aeration,” below)in the pile which speeds the decomposition process (composting require oxygen). Chipped bark and wood come with a slow rate of natural decomposition which, based on size, can take several months. Composting is a great way to do away with garden waste and get free nutrients in return. Public perception of carcass composting often assumes that composting means carcasses are piled up to slowly decompose uncontrolled. Once the basics are covered, you can speed up the process by turning the compost as frequently as your temperature reading indicate. By optimizing these four factors, you’ll be able to compost your wood chips faster. Each 6- to 8-inch-layer of plant material should be topped with 1 inch of soil or compost. To promote decomposition, mix leaves with grass clippings or other materials high in nitrogen. A compost pile that is too large may not heat up all the way through, leading to incomplete decomposition. According to the University of Illinois Extension, inoculants are rich in bacteria and fungi and added to compost to speed up the breakdown of materials. Because they are small, wood chips decompose faster compared to whole logs. Consider using stable wastes, coop cleanings and bedding material in your compost. Dried leaves are one source of carbon. Speeding Up the Decomposition of Chipped Bark and Wood. Construct the compost pile in layers. On the other hand, a compost pile that is too small may not have enough material for the bacteria to really get started. Once you've prepared the ground, add a base layer of straw or twigs. After the compost is done, use it to amend garden soil or to mulch around growing plants. Composting accelerates and controls the natural decay process to convert yard waste such as leaves into an organic soil conditioner. Just as with a traditional compost pile, turning your leaf compost pile will speed decomposition. Nitrogen is … Yarrow, in particular, is thought to be an excellent addition because of its high concentration of nutrients and its ability to speed up the decomposition process. 4 Ways for Composting Wood Chips Faster 1) Fertilizer + Shape of Pile + Turning + Moisture. Turn your pile a minimum of two times per week up until the pile freezes in cold temperatures. A compost pile requires the proper carbon and nitrogen ratio for quickest composting. Mix 4-5 parts leaves to one part green waste. The smaller the size of the material, the faster it will decompose. And when it comes to creating a fast working pile, oxygen and water are absolutely vital! To speed up the composting process, you have to invest a little more time and energy. But composting is actually an accelerated decomposition of animal tissue and waste. 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