Cover with an inch of soil. Next, cover the compost pile with plastic. Hold the sides in place with wire, concrete blocks, or boards. Turn the pile every few weeks throughout the fall, adding moisture during prolonged dry periods. Both will help speed decomposition and make the final product more uniform.
Compost piles are simple to do, but it does take time for the process to work.
If you start a compost pile this fall, don't expect to use it in the spring. However, it should be ready to spread next fall. Keep in mind that you are not limited to leaves for composting. You can use any plant material that's not diseased, doesn't contain mature weed seeds, and hasn't been treated with pesticides. In addition, non-meat kitchen scraps can be composted.