Common Composting Problems and Some Solutions

Composting problems show that making compost is not an exact science that works every time. Experience will tell you what works best for you in terms of raw materials and maintenance.

For example, if you notice that nothing is happening, you may need to add more nitrogen, water, or air.

If things are too hot, you probably have too much nitrogen. Add some more carbon materials to reduce the heating.

A bad smell also may indicate too much nitrogen, or too much water.

Cold composting often proceeds faster in warmer climates than in cooler areas.

Cold piles may take a year or more to decompose, depending on the materials in the pile and the conditions.

Some Composting Problems

Adding kitchen wastes to compost may attract flies and insects. To prevent these composting problems, make a hole in the center of your pile and bury the waste. Do not compost meat scraps, dead animals, pet manure, diseased plant material, or noxious weeds.

Check on any local or state regulations for composting in urban areas—your community may require rodent-proof bins.

Many backyard gardeners could eventually encounter composting problems with their particular compost piles. Maintaining an ideal proportion of brownish matter vs. green matter, regularly aerating the compost heap, and maintaining moisture at just the right amount are the three-part formula for creating an ideal compost pile.

If your pile has the aroma of ammonia, it might have too much nitrogen. Add in carbon substances, for example, hay, leaves or brown grass to improve the balance.

Mucky compost is thick or water-logged compost. It doesn't have sufficient oxygen for aerobic microbes to live. The only ones thriving in that mass are the anaerobic bacteria, which create some foul odors. Turning and mixing the materials will add more air to the mix while drying things out a bit. This will give the aerobic bacteria a chance to do their thing.

If your finished compost is too coarse, you may have started with organic material that was too large.

Corncobs and eggshells require a period of time to break down. If you need finer compost, rip up or cut up the substances prior to placing them into the container. For this current batch, pull out the bigger particles and add all of them to the next heap's materials.

If your compost isn't sizzling, the interior of the pile may be too dry. This can occur rapidly during the summer season.

Keep the compost substances damp to touch. If you live in a dry area, water the pile and then cover it with a tarp to keep the moisture from evaporating.

Insufficient nitrogen may also slow things down. Boost the nitrogen material of the pile using fresh grass cuttings, garden weed growth, kitchen waste or a catalyst such as a commercial compost starter or activator.

The pile could also be too small for heat generation to start. In such cases, add more materials (both green and brown) to increase the microbe action.

Parts of this article are courtesy of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

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