Should I cover my compost pile? (2023)

FAQs

Is it best to cover a compost heap? ›

Cover the heap to protect against rain and add more brown waste, such as chopped woody material, shredded woodchip, straw or paper. Dry and fibrous with little rotting: Usually caused by too little moisture and too much brown material.

The Short Answer. In most cases, a compost pile does not need a cover. Unfinished compost breaks down into a terrific soil additive if the pile is uncovered the whole time. Only three things are necessary for effective composting: air, water and a blend of brown and green material.

To hot compost you need to be sure that your compost pile is moist; located in full Sun if possible, turned periodically, and covered in the winter so that is doesn't get too cold and wet.

DON'T add meat scraps, bones, grease, whole eggs, or dairy products to the compost pile because they decompose slowly, cause odors, and can attract rodents. DON'T add pet feces or spent cat liter to the compost pile. DON'T add diseased plant material or weeds that have gone to seed.

You can sprinkle compost on top or mix it into your flower and vegetable beds, gently rake compost into tree beds, blend it with potting soil to revitalize indoor plants, or spread it on top of the soil on your lawn as a soil amendment.

Some materials compost more easily than others. Materials such as wood and leaves are high in lignin, which is difficult to compost, especially when this material is large in size. Other materials, such as grass clippings and shredded paper, compost a lot faster.

Decomposition will be complete anywhere from two weeks to two years depending on the materials used, the size of the pile, and how often it is turned. Compost is ready when it has cooled, turned a rich brown color, and has decomposed into small soil-like particles. Step 5. Use the compost.

To make good compost, you need a 50:50 mix of materials that are rich in nitrogen and carbon. Nitrogen comes from lush, green material such as grass clippings. Carbon comes from brown material, such as woody stems and cardboard. For every bucket load of green material, you need to add the same volume of brown.

Wind cools and dries the pile, while excessive rain results in coldness, waterlogging, leaching of plant nutrients, and slowing of the composting process. Excess rain tends to sour compost, because anaerobic (airless) decay predominates instead of aerobic decomposition.

Yes! Good airflow is one of the secrets to successful composting. Without it, your compost pile could turn into a stinky mess (literally).

Should I cover my compost pile for the winter? ›

Insulate compost in order to keep it from freezing solid and halting decomposition. Compost bins can be surrounded with bags of leaves or straw bales to buffer against freezing temperatures. Another option is to ring the inside of the bin with 6-12 inches of leaves, sawdust or woodchips.

The short answer is that composted organic matter does not go bad unless you store it improperly. It does, however, continue to break down, and that's completely normal.

It will lose much of its value if materials are left to decompose too long. The more time compost is left to sit around, the more “colloidal” it becomes. In other words, it becomes more and more compact as the composting microbes continue to feed on the waste materials.

You can put your compost pile in the sun or in the shade, but putting it in the sun will hasten the composting process. Sun helps increase the temperature, so the bacteria and fungi work faster. This also means that your pile will dry out faster, especially in warm southern climates.

Adding organic waste like fruit and vegetable matter is one of the best ways to improve your compost. Bananas are not only delicious but compostable. Banana peels are a suitable compost material and provide nutrient-rich additives such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium to your garden soil.

Answer: You can add moldy food (vegetables and fruits only) to a backyard composting bin anytime. Mold cells are just one of the many different types of microorganisms that take care of decomposition and are fine in a backyard bin.

HIGHLY ACIDIC FOODS

Citrus fruit, tomato products and pickled food products can do harm to your compost. High acidity can actually kill the good bacteria that helps break down the material in your compost pile.

Insulate compost in order to keep it from freezing solid and halting decomposition. Compost bins can be surrounded with bags of leaves or straw bales to buffer against freezing temperatures. Another option is to ring the inside of the bin with 6-12 inches of leaves, sawdust or woodchips.

No, an unfinished compost pile does not need to be covered in most cases. The most important factors for composting are air, water and a good mix of green and brown material. Covering a compost pile could cause a lack of oxygen, trap too much moisture and cause a smelly, anaerobic mess.

Water it if necessary in dry weather, and cover your heap with wood or woollen carpet to keep in heat and moisture without it becoming sodden. Uncovered heaps will rot slower than covered ones.

Can you leave compost over winter? ›

You can keep your compost bin active all year round.

In the autumn, the urban composter may look at the remains of their garden and wonder if they should let their compost go dormant over the winter. This would be an easy thing to do, but you still produce kitchen scraps even when winter has come.

Turning the compost when temperatures exceed 140° F (60° C) can prevent both these potential problems. When the temperature drops below 70° F (21° C), the composting process is nearly complete. However, it is also possible that imbalances of oxygen or moisture are causing the pile to cool.

Although the decomposition process usually slows down in cooler weather, compost piles will keep working all year long. Residents of your pile, like bacteria, molds, mites and actinomycetes can survive the cold. However, to prolong their active life over the winter, they will need warmth, food, air, and moisture.

Organisms need free contact with both soil and atmosphere and suitable environments of warmth and moisture. The pile should not be directly exposed to sun, wind, rain, nor sited in a low-lying place subject to unnecessary dampness and standing water.

If you have too many 'greens' in your compost and not enough 'browns,' you shouldn't be surprised to see many of these guys in your compost. Another potential cause is not mixing or turning your compost pile, leading to moist pockets of food waste that maggots will flock to.

Should my compost pile be in the sun or in the shade? You can put your compost pile in the sun or in the shade, but putting it in the sun will hasten the composting process. Sun helps increase the temperature, so the bacteria and fungi work faster.