Common Composting Problem Solutions
If your compost isn’t coming up as you expected, worry not. Review the following tips to get things going again.
Dry or Dusty Compost
This issue is quite common from May to October in areas where summer rainfall is almost zero. All you need to do is to water it. Put an oscillating sprinkler on top of your dry compost pile and run it for an hour.
Slimy, Soggy or Wet Compost
Water-logged or very dense compost piles is a symptom of little to no oxygen for the microorganisms to survive. Often this condition makes the pile emit an unpleasant odor. Try to avoid overburdening your compost pile with wet materials such as spoiled hay, grass clippings and heaps of leaves that have not been shredded. And, if you already have a wet compost, aerate the pile and add more dry materials.
Smelly Compost Bins
Poor aeration, an abundance of moisture, or a lack of nitrogen-rich material are the three main reasons why your compost will smell bad. For rotten-eggs-odor, the solution is to turn the pile. If the pile has an ammonia-like smell, mixing in brown material (peanut shells, sawdust, shredded, straw, unbleached or colored cardboard) can help in restoring the carbon-nitrogen balance. You can also opt for using the trench composting method that smothers odors by moving the process underground.
The Pile Won’t Heat Up
If your pile doesn’t heat up, it might have a deficiency of nitrogen-rich materials. If that’s the case, tear the whole thing apart, add some bloodmeal or manure to fix it, and pile it up again. Turning and watering your dormant pile should bring it to life quickly.
Stay tuned to learn more about tips for creating reach soil for your garden.
Should you need the perfect compost mix, call All Around Soil & Stone at 303-280-0815. You can buy different compost mixes whether for new planting boxes or to amend existing soil.
