To start a leaf compost pile, gather together the leaves and layer with dirt: use one layer of dirt for each foot of leaves. The pile should be about 4ft in diameter and 3ft deep. Make sure it is damp enough that a drop or two can be squeezed out of a handful from the center of the pile. Cover with plastic, weighing down the edges with rocks. Try not to compress the leaves. The compost will be ready when it is dark and crumbly, in about five to six months. This compost is not for fertilizer, as it really does not have many nutrients in it; but it is an excellent organic addition to soil.

Insulate the active compost

Even in the coldest weather, the microbes in the compost must be kept active. This means making sure they stay warm. In preparation for this, harvest the finished compost in fall to make room for new additions to the mix over the winter. Use it in houseplants; spread it over the lawn, over the gardens and around shrubs. When overhauling the compost system, move the bin into the sun for the winter or into a warmer part of the yard. Be realistic when choosing its location, considering what it will be like to add kitchen waste in heavy rains, wind or just plain cold temperatures. Start rebuilding with a layer of leaves, or with straw, cardboard or sawdust. Put the active part in the middle, and then cover it with more brown matter. This insulates the active compost.

Monitor the moisture

In milder climates, insulation is not so important in keeping compost bacteria active, but there may be other challenges. In cold, rainy locations such as California’s Bay Area, coastal Oregon and Washington State, it is moisture control that’s most important in maintaining active compost through winter. This can be difficult with a pile system, as the rain soaks into the ground and is taken up by the compost. Keep compost piles well covered to prevent the rain from directly falling on the pile.

Compost tumblers are sealed units so rain is not a problem. However, even a sealed composter can be too wet inside during the winter months. This is usually due to a shortage of carbon materials to absorb the moisture from nitrogen materials such as kitchen scraps. High humidity also contributes to excess moisture since most composters are aerated. Add carbon materials such as peat or dry leaves which absorb moisture, and open any drain holes in the composter. To learn more about restoring a wet, inactive compost, read our article How to Fix a Soggy Compost Pile.

The American South varies as to the composting needs in places. In Florida’s semi-tropical climate, residents will find that winter composting is much the same as summer composting. Texas, on the other hand, can provide challenges depending on where in the state the compost pile is located. With its near-desert conditions, West Texas can present a challenge in the summer; but on the Panhandle, which is the Great Plains, the incessant winter wind and blowing snow make moisture control imperative. Check the compost when adding scraps, making sure that the wind has not dried the compost out. This also applies in Washington State, east of the Cascades, and through Montana and the Dakotas.

Composting in the desert can present its own problems. In winter it is a good idea to mound the compost, then make a crater in the top, to catch what rain there is. To make the most of catching the water, a 1-2inch pipe with holes drilled at regular intervals can distribute moisture more deeply into the compost.

The different composting methods have different procedures for overwintering the compost. In essence, they are all about controlling temperature and moisture.

Here’s a look at the basic composting methods and how they can be used to provide compost through the winter months.

Compost tumblers

Compost tumblers are the most efficient closed-bin systems and make year-round composting relatively easy. A composting tumbler is a bin on a support, so it can be spun to mix the compost. The tumbler has some form of aeration, such as vents, spikes or a perforated tube running up the center for airflow. Its self-containment makes it easy to move, and the dark color helps keep the tumbler warm. Continued feeding with both green and brown matter can keep the bacteria alive and working.

The good part, besides the above, is that wildlife cannot access the scraps put in these containers. Tumblers keep the compost contained, all in one place, and odor-free for city dwellers. Composting tumblers are also called batch composters, as they break down one batch at a time. Some models have dual compartments so one batch can be added to while the other matures. Because they are contained and elevated from the ground, compost tumblers are the easiest way of keeping compost active through winter.