Composting Tips for November Garden Waste
November is leaf-fall, tidying, and pruning month—meaning there’s a lot of green and brown garden waste! Making good compost now turns all those trimmings into rich, crumbly gold for next year’s plants. Here’s how to get the most from your compost heap or bin with November’s unique mix of materials.
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What Goes in the Compost in November?
- Leaf fall: Deciduous leaves (oak, beech, maple, ash, etc.)
- Spent annuals and veggie plants: Chop tough stalks for faster decay; remove seeds and any diseased or blighted material (bin or burn that).
- Lawn clippings: Still mowing? Add thin layers of clippings (mix with drier browns to avoid sliminess).
- Prunings: Thin, woody stems can be shredded or bundled in small pieces.
- Vegetable peelings and fruit scraps from the kitchen.
- Old mulches (if seed-free).
November Composting Tricks
- Mix Browns and Greens
- Layer “green” (wet, fresh) waste like veggie trimmings and grass with “brown” (dry, carbon-rich) waste like leaves, shredded paper, cardboard, or straw.
- Aim for about 50% of each for a balanced, hot heap.
- Shred and Chop
- Break up big stalks, corn stems, and branches for faster breakdown.
- Rake leaves into the heap or bag separately for pure leaf mold.
- Monitor Moisture
- November is damp—make sure your heap isn’t soggy. Cover with old carpet, wood, or a bin lid if rain is heavy.
- If too wet, add extra paper, dry leaves, straw, or sawdust.
- Aerate the Heap
- Turn or fork through the compost every few weeks to let in air.
- Forking in November stirs in fresh material and helps microbes thrive.
- Compost Bin Maintenance
- Tidy the area; clear base vents.
- Clean tools and wash your bin lid to avoid flies and smells.
What Not to Compost Now
- Diseased plants, blighted tomato and potato stems/leaves, heavy roots of perennial weeds (like bindweed or ground elder), and anything gone to seed (unless your heap gets truly hot).
- Pet waste, meat, dairy, or oily food.
Extra Tips
- Start a new heap or “leaf pile” for pure leaf mold—great for seed sowing or soil improvement.
- Don’t forget to compost pumpkin/carving remains, candleless Halloween squash, or spent autumn decorations!
Composting November waste clears space and fortune in your garden—and guarantees a spring head start, both for your soil and your wallet.