Ginger County Master Gardner
Frequently Asked Questions – Compost Troubleshooting
Composting is like baking a cake — sometimes the recipe doesn't work if you put too much of one thing or not enough of another. Composting is a natural process so when things do go wrong finding a solution to the problem is not as tough as it seems. Some common compost problems and their solutions are listed below.
I found mice in my compost pile! What should I do?
My compost pile is "bugging" me. What should I do?
Crumbly compost pile! Can my compost pile be too dry?
Downwind from my smelly compost pile! P.U. - what to do?
Cool composting? My compost isn't getting hot. Why?
My worms are now entombed in my compost pile. What did I do wrong?
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I found mice in my compost pile! What should I do?
- make sure you are not adding meat, dairy products or greasy foods to your compost bin.
- be sure to cover any other food scraps with a layer of brown material.
- consider a rodent-resistant compost bin.
My compost pile is "bugging" me. What should I do?
Absolutely nothing! Bugs make the decomposition happen. Tiny flies and ants can be pesky but are very helpful.
Crumbly compost pile! Can my compost pile be too dry?
Materials in your compost bin should be as moist as a wrung-out sponge. When you squeeze a handful, no more than one or two drops of moisture drip out, but there should be sufficient moisture to hold the material together in a ball. Piles that are exposed to the air or the sun tend to dry out fairly rapidly. Try covering the pile with a plastic tarp to retain moisture.
If your compost pile is too dry, add water, but be sure to check if water is absorbed into the pile or just shed as it hits the pile. Frequently, watering a pile from above is ineffective because dry materials shed water. In this case, turn the pile by pulling it apart and restocking it, watering each layer.
Downwind from my smelly compost pile! P.U. - what to do?
There are a few causes. Check out these symptoms and the common fixes for each.
- If the pile is compressed and lacks air space, turn it or mix it with a pitchfork and add some twigs and other materials that provide air space.
- If the material is so wet that water drips out when you squeeze a handful – add more dry brown materials, like leaves, dried out weeds or soil, and mix thoroughly. Loosen any clumps that are stuck together.
- If the pile has an ammonia odor, you have too much green material and not enough brown. Simply add more brown material or soil.
Cool composting? My compost isn't getting hot. Why?
Many compost piles hove too much brown material (dry leaves, woody prunings) and not enough green material (lawn clippings, vegetable and fruit scraps, manure). For a hot compost pile, brown materials must be shredded with a mower or chipped. The main advantage of a hot pile is 140 degrees F. Remember, maintaining a hot pile takes ongoing attention to aeration (turning), moisture, and the balance of green and brown materials. Breakdown does occur with cooler piles, but takes a bit longer. So if you can wait and don’t have the time to aerate, then the cooler pile if for you.
My worms are now entombed in my compost pile. What did I do wrong?
A worm bin is a biological system and it may take more than one try to get it right, so don't be discouraged if you did not get it on the first go around. The most common mistake is improper bedding or letting the bedding material dry out. It is very important to start with a four-inch layer of good bedding. For best results, mix rotted leaves with shredded paper.
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Upcoming Events
- Halloween Trick or Treat in the Gardens ( 10/31 at 7pm )
- Composting workshop (11/15 at 3pm) at the Ginger County Ag Center
- Bulb Planting in the Square (11/20 at 1pm) in the town square
- Spring Tour of Gardens (4/10 at 1pm) Meet at the Ginger County Ag Center
