Compost Conundrums: Solving composting problems

Posted by Katie Elzer-Peters
August 2nd, 2010
Filed in Compost
Tags: cold compost, Compost, compost problems, compost with odor, composting, smelly compost

Making your own compost is the best way to add organic matter and natural fertilizer to your garden. Organic matter helps water move through the soil—water stays in the soil so that plants can take it up, but organic matter also helps soil drain properly. Organic matter improves soil structure, helping roots penetrate deeply. Organic matter helps keep the pH of the soil stable, which is important for nutrient availability. Organic matter also decomposes to provide a natural fertilizer for plants.

Compost Problems Cause Headaches

Compost is not just about throwing food scraps in a bin and letting them rot. Several potential problems plague homeowners that compost. However, most of these problems are easy to overcome.

Smelly Compost – Your should not be able to smell your compost pile from inside your house with the doors and windows shut. If you can—you have a problem. Compost gets smelly when there is not enough air circulation in the pile. Turn the compost pile, and add some twigs and sticks to the pile to promote air flow.

Cold Compost – Compost can carry pathogens and weed seeds if it does not heat up properly. Additionally, it takes much longer for cold compost to decompose into rich soil. The pile needs to remain at 140 degrees for three days to kill diseases and weed seeds. To stimulate heat buildup within a compost pile, shred dry materials and add blood meal or horse manure.

Four Legged “Friends” Visiting the Compost Pile – Compost piles for home composting need to contain only vegetable matter. Do not compost meat or dairy products. A good rule of thumb is “if it doesn’t grow on a plant, don’t put it in the pile.”

Compost is too Dry – Add green matter such as vegetable scraps or grass clippings. Also water the pile, and make sure that the water soaks into the pile.

Composting is good for your garden and good for the environment. It reduces waste and is an inexpensive way to improve your soil fertility and increase your yield for vegetables, and the bounty of your flower garden.