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Compost Troubleshooting

The pile may be too small and need more material to effectively compost. Mix in fresh grass clippings, manure, blood meal or other high nitrogen fertilizer to provide more nitrogen. The pile could be too wet. Turn the pile and mix in dry materials like leaves, sawdust or straw to improve air drainage and airflow. The pile may contain inappropriate materials like food waste or pet waste, which can cause odor issues. Remove and dispose of inappropriate materials, and turn and aerate the pile regularly.

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Carlos Rafael Pitirre
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67 views1 page

Compost Troubleshooting

The pile may be too small and need more material to effectively compost. Mix in fresh grass clippings, manure, blood meal or other high nitrogen fertilizer to provide more nitrogen. The pile could be too wet. Turn the pile and mix in dry materials like leaves, sawdust or straw to improve air drainage and airflow. The pile may contain inappropriate materials like food waste or pet waste, which can cause odor issues. Remove and dispose of inappropriate materials, and turn and aerate the pile regularly.

Uploaded by

Carlos Rafael Pitirre
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Compost Troubleshooting

SYMPTOM Pile is damp and warm in the middle, but nowhere else Pile does not get hot POSSIBLE CAUSE Pile may be too small If pile is moist and sweet smelling, it may not a!e eno"g nit#ogen SOLUTIO)*ALTE+)ATI,E -at e# eno"g mate#ial to ma%e a pile ./ ig , ./ wide, and ./ long Mi( in f#es g#ass &lippings, man"#e, blood meal, o# ot e# ig nit#ogen fe#tili0e#

If pile is !e#y wet$ pe# aps smells T"#n t e pile1 Mi( in d#y sawd"st, so"#, it may not be getting eno"g st#aw, o# stal% to imp#o!e ai# inside d#ainage and ai# flow Pile may be too small -at e# eno"g mate#ial to ma%e a pile ./ ig , ./ wide, and ./ long

Pile was b"it g#ad"ally o!e# a few Let it &ompost slowly1 If mate#ials wee%s o# longe# a#e still f#es , t"#n and mi( in f#es g#ass &lippings, man"#e, blood meal, o# ot e# ig nit#ogen fe#tili0e# Pile is dry throughout Pile smells like rotten eggs, vinegar or garbage La&% of 'ate# Too wet, not eno"g o(ygen T"#n t e mate#ial and sp#ay all mate#ials wit wate#1 T"#n t e pile and mi( in &oa#se d#y mate#ials s"& as lea!es, st#aw o# &o#n stal%s1Co!e# wit plasti& d"#ing #ainy weat e# +emo!e and dispose of inapp#op#iate mate#ials1 T"#n t e pile and mi( in d#y mate#ials s"& as lea!es, sawd"st, s #edded pape#, st#aw, o# &o#n stal%s1 +emo!e and dispose of inapp#op#iate mate#ials1 Sl"gs s o"ld be #emo!ed and dest#oyed so t at t ei# eggs a#e not sp#ead in t e ga#den1

Pile smells like ammonia

Inapp#op#iate mate#ials s"& as food o# pet waste in pile Too m"& nit#ogen

Pile is attracting dogs, raccoons, Inapp#op#iate mate#ials s"& as rats, flies, or other pests food o# pet waste in pile Pile contains earwigs, slugs, and )o p#oblem other insects

Seattle Public Utilites~ Seattle Tilth Association

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