Many gardeners warn against adding walnut leaves to the compost. This warning is not entirely unjustified. Nevertheless, you can of course also compost the leaves of a walnut tree. There are just a few things you need to keep in mind.
Can walnut leaves be put in the compost?
Walnut leaves can be added to the compost in small quantities, but should be chopped into small pieces and mixed with other garden waste. They contain a lot of tannic acid, which makes the compost acidic and slows down the rotting process. A separate compost heap is recommended for large quantities.
Can walnut leaves be put in the compost?
Walnut leaves contain a lot of tannic acid. On the one hand, the acid ensures that the leaves only rot very slowly. On the other hand, it acidifies the compost, so that it is not suitable for fertilizing all plants in the garden.
In small quantities, walnut leaves certainly won't do any harm and won't burden the compost too much. However, you should first chop the leaves into small pieces and mix them with other garden waste.
In any case, only leaves that are free of fungi and pests should be added to the compost. However, such problems only occur very rarely with walnut leaves.
Create a second compost heap for walnut leaves
If you have a lot of walnut leaves, you should consider creating a second compost heap in which you only compost the leaves and other acidic substances.
Another option is to sweep the leaves into a pile. It is then shredded and mixed in very small quantities in the main compost heap with other, more rapidly decomposing materials. Then the compost soil will not be so acidic and the rotting process will go a little faster.
Which plants is acidic compost suitable for?
Very acidic compost soil, such as that produced when composting walnut leaves and other leaves, can be used very well if you want to fertilize ericaceous plants. These plants enjoy compost made from walnut leaves:
- Azaleas
- Rhododendrons
- Heide
- Forest plants
liming compost
So that compost that has become very acidic due to walnut leaves can also be used for other plants, you can also lime the compost.
You should only sprinkle the lime shortly before use. The recommended dosage is one kilogram of lime per three cubic meters of compost. The best lime for this use is algae lime (€8.00 on Amazon).
Tip
It's not just leaves that can make compost soil very acidic. Many conifers such as Thuja should not be added to the compost in large quantities. Beforehand, the cut material is chopped into small pieces so that it rots more quickly.
