How to Cause Dead Leaves to Decay

Set up the compost pile in a shady area with good drainage and no standing water. Rake up the dead leaves in the fall or early spring.

Pile the leaves in a 4- to 10-foot-diameter circle. You can pile as many leaves into this circle as needed, keeping the height to 3 or 5 feet. If the leaves are too deep, oxygen can't reach the center of the pile and leaves won't decay well.

Wet the leaves as you add them to the pile. Leaves need moisture to enable the microorganisms to function properly and decompose the leaves. To determine if you have enough water added to the leaf pile, pick up a handful of leaves and squeeze them. You'll need to be able to squeeze out droplets of water.

Add a half cup of nitrogen-rich fertilizer for every 20 gallons of compacted leaves. When pouring the leaves into the compost pile, keep the leaves loose and don't compact them. Air needs to penetrate the pile for faster decomposition.

Spray the leaf pile once a week to keep the leaves moist but not soggy. Dig into the pile to see if there is adequate moisture. You should detect some heat in the middle. If you don't, check the moisture content. The pile likely needs more water or less.

Turn the leaves with a pitch fork or garden fork every month. It takes four to nine months before the leaves will be decayed and ready to use in your garden. During this time, the leaf pile will shrink in size.