More information about composting

Troubleshooting
Key points to remember
Commonly asked questions

 
Troubleshooting

Symptom	Problem	Solution
The compost has a bad odor	Not enough air	Turn it
The center of pile is dry or white mold appears	Not enough water	Moisten and turn
The heap is sweet smelling but will not heat up.	Lack of nitrogen	Mix in nitrogen (green) source
The heap is damp in middle but dry everywhere else	Pile is too small or too dry	Collect more material; moisten

Key points to remember

* Use equal amounts of green stuff and brown stuff.
* Mix together a variety of ingredients.
* Shred or chop all ingredients, if possible.
* Build the pile large enough to retain heat.
* Turn or aerate the heap regularly to let in the air.
* Keep the pile as moist as a damp sponge.

Commonly asked questions

How wet does the pile need to be?
The pile should be damp like a wrung out sponge, not drippy or dry.

What do I do with extra grass clippings and leaves that I can1t fit in my pile?
Use extra grass clippings and leaves as mulch around planting

What do I do with tree limbs, small brush, or woody waste?
Leave for your designated yard trimmings pick up day.

What tools do I need to compost?
A shovel or pitchfork is commonly used to turn the pile. Compost thermometers can also help monitor the activity in the pile but are not necessary.