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Lodi, California

Hi, I'v got a compost pile that isn' t heating up and is about 2 weeks old. It is mainly comprised of leaves and is in shade. I think it's not warming up because of too much brown. Also it's about 2 ft high by 3 to 4 feet wide. I'm going to add grass clippings soon. Any advice? Thanks.

11/24/2012 7:56:58 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Grass clipping will heat it up quick!

11/24/2012 8:28:10 PM

ShagHarbour n,s canada

do leave compost even heat up?

11/24/2012 8:43:43 PM

Hobbiton New Zealand

mix it up with a few hand fulls of urea

11/25/2012 12:45:17 AM

Colorado

Leaves will heat up,not like manure will.I,m guessing 100 to 110 degrees.they need moisture

11/25/2012 1:28:49 AM

Ontario

Leafs do not really compost , they are broken down by fungus,pile all your leaves togeather. Build a bin of some kind to keep them from blowing around.chicken wire or a type of fencing,4 "T" post work, you can hold the fence up with zip tyes.Keep the pile wet, and wait & wait 1-2 yrs, but the humus you get is worth the wait. Hope this helps Terry

11/25/2012 9:29:08 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Leaves are Carbon...They need a proper mix of Nitrogen to Carbon to break down in a compost pile...The best source available most for nitrogen is grass clippings and manures. Make the pile higher than wider to maintain the heat

11/25/2012 10:04:36 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

What about old rotting straw bales? I have a few of those.

11/25/2012 10:13:57 AM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

@smallmouth,They hold moisture real good so that will cause heat seen roundbails burst into flames they get so hot in the middle.&always been told by old farmers there good compost to turn in the ground.

11/25/2012 11:06:47 AM

Ontario

I needed to mention too , you can speed things up somewhat, if you shread the leafs first. If you don't have one , maybe you could borrow one ,or you can rent one. but it will speed things up. Terry

11/25/2012 11:33:39 AM

Lodi, California

thx

11/25/2012 11:49:39 AM

Omaha, Ne.

I use hay In my compost. when layering hay helps keep air pockets. The leaves just leave them alone they will turn into leaf mold. (the best type of compost).

11/25/2012 12:41:52 PM

Eganville, Ontario

Peel back your leaf pile before you add the grass clippings. I'd leave about a foot of leaves, then sprinkle a few inches of grass clippings. If you have access to any manure, put two inches of that down on top of the grass clippings.

Keep building from that point with another foot of leaves, repeat the grass clippings and manure.

My pile us usually too hot to touch in about three days after building.

11/25/2012 1:28:37 PM

Torrance, Ca.

That's it Ryan! Do mine the same way and in a couple days if I turn in the middle, it looks like its on fire!! :)

11/25/2012 1:30:57 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

The hippies down the road pee on it.drums work quiker also the turning ones or even even cut the top&bottom out u-bolt to t-post keep drum bout 8" off the ground so you can shovel it back to top so u can turn it.drums hold heat&moistoire everything molds not just the inside of pyle.

11/25/2012 1:39:23 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Thx Yard

11/25/2012 2:22:24 PM

Corbin, KY

If your in a pinch and need a quick fix for nitrogen (greens) to add to your
carbons (browns) go to feed store and buy alflafa cubes or pellets add into compost pile turn make sure you have enough moisture. You will get heat.

11/26/2012 10:18:48 AM

Colorado

Same with coffee grounds.If you can get bunchy of grounds from starbucks etc.-they really heat up

11/26/2012 1:35:00 PM

Hot West Tennessee

Bloodmeal , water in and some form a manure. I use donkey and chicken.

11/26/2012 10:52:26 PM

Lodi, California

Thanks, though pile won't heat up still, going to put on more shredded leaves

11/27/2012 1:55:19 AM

Rapid City, SD

interesting....one has a computer right at ones finger tips but does not research.....30 years ago one had to go to the library to get information or ask grandma or grandpa....

i thought i would make it easy......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSYbVHOmHog

that being said.......most of your questions can be answered by typing in your question in the google search bar..

happy surfing

11/27/2012 1:57:40 PM

Lodi, California

i know how to compost in general matt. just looking for extra tips. been looking on internet painstakingly for 4 years. all that ever comes up is general info. dont know if you guys have special internet or what. thanks for input all!

11/29/2012 9:58:13 PM

Minnesota

I know, you used to have to ask someone or go to the library for info, now, I just google it, awesome!

11/30/2012 12:20:47 AM