Turn leaves into fuel for next year’s garden by shredding them with a string trimmer in a garbage can before you compost them.

Shredding one leaf into five or ten smaller pieces does several good things. First, it increases the surface area, giving microbes many more places to work. It also prevents the leaves from packing together into layers that won’t let water or air penetrate and it reduces the volume dramatically.

Ten bags of whole leaves becomes just one bag of shredded leaves. Fill a garbage can half-full of dried leaves and run your string grass trimmer in the can. In a few minutes, they’ll be just right for composting.

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Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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