Why Fall Is the Best Time to Start Composting

When most people think about composting, they picture spring gardens or summer lawns. But the truth is, fall might be the very best season to start—or step up—your composting game. Here’s why.

1. Leaves Are Nature’s Compost Gold

Every year, millions of bags of leaves end up sitting on curbs, waiting for pickup. Yet those leaves are one of the richest, most plentiful compost materials you can get. Dry, crunchy leaves add “brown” carbon material to your pile, which helps balance the “green” nitrogen materials like food scraps and grass clippings. Instead of bagging them, shred them and feed your compost—they’ll break down faster and leave you with nutrient-rich soil.

2. Yard Clean-Up Feeds Your Compost

Fall cleanup naturally produces a ton of compost-friendly material: dead plants from the garden, pulled annuals, and clippings from late-season pruning. All of it can be recycled into the compost bin instead of hauled off to the dump. What would normally be “waste” becomes the start of next year’s fertile soil.

3. Cooler Weather Makes Composting Easier

Let’s be honest: no one enjoys dealing with compost in the heat of summer. Fall’s cooler temperatures make the process a lot more pleasant. Odors are less intense, the material doesn’t dry out as quickly, and you’re more likely to actually stick with it when you’re not swatting mosquitoes.

4. Build Now, Benefit Later

Compost takes time to mature. By starting (or adding to) your pile in the fall, you give it the whole winter to break down. Come spring, you’ll have a rich, crumbly soil amendment ready to mix into garden beds, potted plants, or even your lawn. You’re essentially banking fertility now for a bigger payoff later.

5. It’s Better for the Planet—and Your Wallet

When you compost your fall yard waste and kitchen scraps, you keep all that material out of landfills. That reduces methane emissions and helps close the loop on your household’s waste. Plus, every scoop of compost you make is one less bag of fertilizer or soil conditioner you have to buy.

Bottom Line

Composting in the fall isn’t just a nice idea—it’s smart, practical, and rewarding. You’ve already got the materials on hand, the weather makes it manageable, and the payoff shows up right when you need it most: spring planting season.

So before you bag those leaves or toss those garden clippings, think twice. A compost bin or tumbler isn’t just a place for scraps—it’s an investment in healthier soil, greener gardens, and a more sustainable way of living.