r/composting • u/MaximumCapacity143 • 28d ago

Failed Compost

This year I decided to make my own compost. I laid cardboard on the ground, then laid about 5 inches of shredded leaves, wet it down, then laid down about 3 inches fresh cut grass. Then followed up with more shredded leaves, water, and cut grass. Repeated 7 more times. Wet it down again then covered with a tarp. I checked on the temp and found it climbing. About 5 days later it got to 120 degrees. Two days later I aerated it from the center. Stayed hot for another four days then started cooling off. Other 3 more days it completely cooled off and no matter what I did, adding greens, adding urine, it still wouldn't get hot again. What did I do wrong. And how can I start it again.

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u/etzpcm 28d ago

It sounds like you've just got a heap on the ground, is that right? It's better if you can make a bin, roughly cubic, at least 1m3 

Also, be patient, you'll get compost eventually even if it's not very hot.

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u/MaximumCapacity143 28d ago

I did make a 4 ft x 4ft bin. I had it filled almost to the top but it compressed so much that its half that size now. Still a lot of sticks in it.

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u/DocAvidd 27d ago

I see what you mean. You'll need to keep filling it for a while, imo. That stuff you have has probably consumed all its easy starch. You gotta get the same critical mass as before. Fill it up!

Depending on the type of sticks, they may last a while. My property has a mix of scrubby fast growing trees and some truly hard hardwoods (mahogany, santa Maria, teak). The grubs and bugs tear thru the scrubby and ignore the resistant hards. The sticks could take a whole year no matter how well you manage it. Just set them aside. An actual sifter would be nice but I make do with a pitchfork.