Compost

[Rick Smith]

Two compost questions
I have been making compost out of about 2/3 green and 1/3 oak leaves in a 3X3 ft wire container for about 2 years. Now It looks like just dry chopped up leaves not like black compost like I expected. What can I do to make the leaves decay?
I have an area about 20X20 ft that has had weed guard and about 2 to 3 in of mulch that has turner to what looks like black fine compost. Is this good compost that could be used around vegetables?

 

[Chuck]

Two compost questions
I have been making compost out of about 2/3 green and 1/3 oak leaves in a 3X3 ft wire container for about 2 years. Now It looks like just dry chopped up leaves not like black compost like I expected. What can I do to make the leaves decay?
I have an area about 20X20 ft that has had weed guard and about 2 to 3 in of mulch that has turner to what looks like black fine compost. Is this good compost that could be used around vegetables?

Oak leaves take a long time to decay but you can speed up the process by using a molasses spray or drench at the rate of 1 oz per gallon of water. Also turning the compost pile over every couple of months will also help greatly especially using the molasses at the same time.

I presume that the weed guard you are speaking of is the fabric to prevent weeds? If so then the compost on top will be fine for your vegetables