Daily gardening tip · Northern hemisphere · Saturday 5 September 2026 · early autumn
Set Up an Autumn Leaf Corral
The massive volume of falling leaves and cleared plants in autumn will quickly overwhelm a single compost bin.
20 minuteseasycompost
Select a flat, shady spot in your yard near your existing compost area.
Drive four wooden stakes into the ground to form a square about three feet wide.
Wrap utility wire mesh or chicken wire around the outside of the stakes.
Secure the wire mesh to the wooden stakes using heavy-duty zip ties or staples.
Leave the top open and ready to receive the upcoming rush of autumn leaves and cleared garden waste.
Why it works
Autumn clean-up generates more bulk material than a standard compost bin can process at once. A simple wire corral acts as a holding bay, keeping your yard tidy and storing dry carbon-rich leaves that you can slowly add to your main compost bin throughout the year.
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